Vikash Anand may not be old enough to have a driver’s license, but the 17-year-old Chennai boy surely knows how to set the tracks ablaze with his skills behind the wheel.
Vikash will be rubbing shoulders with the big boys of motor sport when he drives the MRF Formula 1600 car in a support race during the Indian Grand Prix to be held at the Buddh International Circuit on October 30. Vikash says driving in front of the Formula One fraternity is the proudest moment of his life. “I am thrilled to be a part of India’s first Grand Prix. I never dreamt that one day I would be racing on the same track as my heroes Narain Karthikeyan, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso,” said the Class 12 student of Lady Andal, who will be the youngest competitor during the Indian GP weekend.
To get acclimatised to the challenging Buddh International Circuit, Vikash has been getting familiar with the track on his PlayStation, thanks to the newly launched official 2011 F1 Game. “Before the qualifying session we get to drive on the track for only 30 minutes, so the virtual reality game has been really useful in understanding the layout of the track. After having seen the impressive elevations and the stunning 1.2 km-long straight, I can’t wait to drive out there,” he adds.
The fastest Indian on wheels, Narain Karthikeyan, has been mentoring Vikash since his arrival on the national scene. “Narain has been my inspiration. I learnt a lot when I was driving for the NK Racing team in the JK Tyres national racing championship. I am going to meet him in New Delhi before the event,” says Vikash, who is the youngest driver to win the national Junior Cup at 16.
With the winner taking home a prize of `45 lakh, Vikash has his task cut out on the grid, which has an array of prominent racers from England. “It’s going to be tough. I want make a good impression and not make any mistakes. I will be really happy to be in the top five,” he says.