MARCH 23, 2007

Karthikeyan to race stock cars

Williams test driver Narain Karthikeyan will take part in the Speedcar Series, the competition that will pit 24 identical 600bhp cars against each other on tracks across Asia and the Middle East. Karthikeyan is the first Asian driver to be announced as a competitor in the championship.

The 30-year-old is a single-seater veteran, having raced across the world in Formula Three, Formula Nippon, and the Dallara Nissan World Series, as well as Formula 1, but can't wait to try stock car racing.

"The winter series is perfect for me as I can concentrate on Formula 1, my main obligation," says Narain.

The series will begin in November and will feature former F1 drivers such as Johnny Herbert, Jean Alesi and Stefan Johansson.

The championship will be officially presented in Dubai later this year.