India's first Grand Prix driver, Narain Karthikeyan's interest in the sport was fostered following his father's career in domestic rallying. He started racing in 1993 and won Britain's Formula Ford winter series in 1994 before further title success in Formula Asia 2 years after.
Early racing career
With one season in British Formula Vauxhall, Karthikeyan graduated to that country's Formula 3 series in 1998 when forcing an Intersport Dallara F398-Opel. His true value only emerged when he switched to Carlin Motorsport mid-season -- his Dallara F397/8-Mugen finishing third at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone.
That included success in a French F3 Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps and he stopped 2000 by dominating the Korean Superprix against a select field from around the globe.
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