JANUARY 12, 2012

Chandhok goes sportscar racing

Karun Chandhok will contest the new FIA World Endurance Championship with JRM Racing in 2012. The newly launched WEC includes the Le Mans 24hrs and Sebring 12hrs, which starts the season.

Karun Chandhok will contest the new FIA World Endurance Championship with JRM Racing in 2012. The newly launched WEC includes the Le Mans 24hrs and Sebring 12hrs, which starts the season.

It is the first endurance series of world championship status since the World Sportscar Championship, which ended in 1992. Chandhok's JRM Racing team mates will be David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck.

"I'm very happy to be racing again," Chandhok said. At the end of 2011 we explored the options to race in F1 and when it didn't look like a possibility, I decided to look outside and the WEC presents the next best option. The cars are capable of speeds of over 360kmh, the calendar is fantastic and the quality of teams and drivers is very high.

"Together with the works Audi and Peugeot, the Acura LMP1 car that JRM has acquired should be one of the most competitive cars. James Rumsey, who owns the team, and Nigel Stepney, who leads the technical side, seem extremely motivated to do a good job.

"To be the first Indian to start at the famous Sebring 12hrs and the Le Mans 24hrs will be a huge honour. I've stood on the podium at the legendary venues of Macau, Silverstone, Spa and Monaco among others in my career so far and Sebring and Le Mans are two other classics which would be great to add to that list one day!"

Rumsey added: "Although this will be Karun's first year in sportscars, I have every confidence that he will be one of the quickest drivers on the grid."