Date:14/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121460742000.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Armaan signs up for F2

Special Correspondent

Armaan Ebrahim

CHENNAI: Armaan Ebrahim had his entry confirmed by the F2 Series organiser, Jonathan Palmer of Motorsport Vision Ltd. The Formula 2 Championship is promoted by the FIA (World Body of Motorsport) and has been given the status of the FIA feeder series to F-1.

The Williams F-1 Team is the official partners to the championship and all the cars are being built by the Williams Formula One Team. The cars will be built very close to F-1 car specifications adopting the same technology of a F-1 car.

The championship consists of eight rounds with 16 races across Europe and will be run along with the World Touring Car Championship. The championship starts in April with the official test days and the races beginning in May 2009 and ending in November.

The winner of the F2 Championship will get a test drive with the Williams F-1 team and the top 3 winners of the championship will be awarded a F-1 licence by the FIA.

Armaan, currently in Singapore undergoing a physical and mental training camp said, “the F2 Championship is a bold and revolutionary concept. I am also excited that I have been able to, in principal, secure the services of Chris Gorne as my personal engineer for the F2 Championship. Chris is a very well known name at the highest levels of the sport and has engineered Team France and Team Germany in the A1 GP Championships to title-wins.”

Armaan said that the budget for 2009 was in the region of Rs. 2 crores. He was happy that JK Tyre and Amaron had confirmed support while discussions were on with BPCL. “I am also lucky to have support from A1 Team India as the second driver for the team and would like to thank Spice Energy for the sponsorship support.”

The Chennai ace also announced his new association with Red Rooster Racing.