“ I WORKED LIKE A DOG ”

From racing the Esteem in Chennai to having the National Anthem played out for him at a Formula 1 weekend and now working the microphone in the F1 pitlane, Karun is living the dream

KARUN CHANDHOK IS ONE of only two Indians to have driven in Formula 1, the only one to race in Le Mans and the familiar voice you hear every other Sunday as he wields the microphone in the Formula 1 pitlane. Then again, everybody knows that. But how hard was it to get to where he is today? How many times did he throw in the towel? How many times did he want to leave behind the cold, wet, dreary UK weather for homecooked food and the bright sunshine of Chennai? I sat down with Karun at our offices in Pune, for a long chat on the life and times of the most high profile motorsports person in India. And, of course, I start by asking how he manages to spot stuff that the other F1 commentators just cannot see.

I love the technical side of the sport

“I love the strategic side and I love reading the race. One of the things I learned [while racing] was breaking down the race for people at home to understand. I always keep in mind my mum or my grandparents who are watching at home, they need to understand the nuances of the sport.”

It’s been a tough journey

“Coming from India to try and make it to the top in motorsport was always going to be a challenge. Nobody really knew where the path would take us, because obviously Narain was seven years older than me, and at that stage we were both feeling our way through and then trying to carve our own paths. There was no template. At the time everyone knew you had to be in the UK and I think that’s still very much the case. It’s still a very strong centre for junior formula racing.