Indian motorsport legend Narain Karthikeyan landed in Bahrain on Monday morning and was taken straight from the airport to a function with over two thousand school children at the Indian School in Isa Town. Karthikeyan who is no stranger to Bahrain, having raced here in the 2005 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix for the Jordan team, was a huge hit with the children who had turned out in force to welcome their favourite sporting star to the Kingdom.
Karthikeyan will be driving this weekend in the new Speedcar series that is part of a bumper festival of motor racing at the BIC in conjunction with the Desert 400 V8 Supercar Championship. He will be joined in Friday and 
Saturday’s events by other legendary Grand Prix starts including Jean Alesi, who raced in over 200 Grands Prix for Ferrari and Benetton, Johnny Herbert a two times Grand Prix winner of the German and British Grands Prix and the winner of the demanding Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race and Stefan Johansson another former Ferrari and McLaren driver who has also won at Le Mans and has spent the last ten years racing in the States.
The brand new Speedcar series is a concept that will run at other Grands Prix 
circuits in 2008, including the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, and will see grids of 20 plus drivers driving cars that are very similar to the rumbling V8 racers that contest the American NASCAR series. The Speedcars will be on track all three days of the Desert 400 weekend and will be some of the largest and noisiest cars ever to have raced at the BIC.
During his visit to the school Narain spoke to the assembled children and answered their questions about the weekend’s events and was able to sign autographs. He was joined by Indian Ambassador to Bahrain. Speaking of his participation in the forthcoming weekend’s event Narain said, "I am really happy to be back in Bahrain where I have enjoyed some great racing and 
some amazing support from so many people. It was great to be back with the school children again and it is wonderful to see how much support motorsport is getting in the country. I am looking forward to seeing many of today’s crowd down at the track on Friday and Saturday and looking forward to the support that they will give me".
The Desert 400 V8 Supercars Championship weekend, which is full of entertainment both on and off the track for the whole family, starts on Thursday, November 1st with racing on Friday and Saturday. Tickets for the whole weekend are BD10 for adults and half-price for children under the age of 15. Tickets are available from the BIC sales outlet at Seef Mall or from the BIC Ticket Hot Line on 17450000. -
www.speedcarseries.com
The Speedcar Series is a one-make stockcar-style championship featuring 24-identical 620bhp cars. The championship is based in Dubai, and will take place across Asia and the Middle East. The series will feature a mix of ex-Formula One and international drivers, with Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson, Narain Karthikeyan, Ukyo Katayama, Gianni Morbidelli and many more. A prize-fund of USD 3 million will be distributed to drivers at the end of the season, with the eventual champion receiving USD 600,000.
About Grand Racing:
Beginning 2008, with strong partnerships in promoting the championship, Speedcar Series will be jointly collaborating with GP2 Asia in 5 races this season as Grand Racing event. Two of which, will be coinciding with F1 in Malaysia and Bahrain.
Grand Racing Calendar 2007/2008*
* Subject to FIA approval
** FIA Formula One World Championship event
Speedcar Series show previews at:
•Bahrain International Circuit – November 1-3, 2007
•Dubai Autodrome – November 16 – 17, 2007
5 12/ 04/ 2008 Dubai Autodrome UAE Speedcar Series
+ GP2 Asia
4 05/ 04/ 2008** Bahrain International Circuit BHR Speedcar Series
+ GP2 Asia
3 22/ 03/ 2008** Sepang International Circuit MAL Speedcar Series
+ GP2 Asia
2 17/ 02/ 2008 Sentul International Circuit INA Speedcar Series
+ GP2 Asia
1 26/ 01/ 2008 Dubai Autodrome UAE Speedcar Series
+ GP2 Asia
- Priya Thangaveloo-
