Racing duo lapping up home experience
They may have spent their early years playing pranks on each other, but when it comes to on-field rivalry, Akhil Khushlani and Aditya Patel are fierce competitors.
The duo are part of the JK Racing Asia Series — a support race to the Grand Prix of India at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida — and are lapping up the “experience of competing in front of the home crowd”.
Khushlani is keen to draw from his experience of participating in the inaugural Grand Prix of India and says knowing the circuit will be an added advantage for him. “I wouldn’t say I am a pro here, but I have raced at the BIC last year and it definitely helps,” said the 22-year old Khushlani.
And even though he is a year younger than Patel, he is the one the other Indian drivers turn to “for advice”. Khushlani began karting at the age of 10 and has an experience of racing in close to 43 races at the Junior Circuit, with the distinction of winning 31 of them. “I have seen a whole lot of them learn racing while I was already driving in some international races,” says Khushlani.
For Patel, it is his first race on home soil with the JK series and for the youngster, nothing matches the joy of competing in front of the countrymen. “I have raced in places like Germany and France, but home is home!”
Of the seven Indian drivers in the series, Khushlani and Patel are the closest. “Akhil and I go back a long way,” says Patel. “We have been racing together during our junior days and have even done a lot of naughty things as kids. We have fought, used to hide each other’s phones, etc. besides some things that you cannot print! As competitors, we are intense and give our best on the track. The friendship takes a back seat then.”
For the weekend at the India race, the duo have received a lot of wishes from their well wishers and fans. “F1 in India is a great opportunity for people to get familiar with the sport. They know the big names, like the Schumachers and the Alonsos. But the countrymen also associate with us since we are Indians, and it’s a great feeling,” says Khushlani.
For Akhil, it was a moment to savour as his parents and grandparents accompanied him to Delhi. “Grandma, please come, he had told me. So we are here to support him,” said Chandra Khushlani, who was glued to the television in the paddock area. “His grandfather is 84, but we are all here to support him,” she said with a smile.
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