Karthikeyan itching to get behind wheels

NEW DELHI: Narain Karthikeyan cannot wait to get behind the wheel of the new Ferrari-powered car when Team India runs its maiden race at the Chengdu International Circuit in the south west of China for round two of the A1GP series later this week.
    
Having won the race in China last year, Karthikeyan is keen to hit the 3.367 km track with the car which has got a new livery and the Indian race ace said preparation could not have been better for him this season.
    
"We are more ready than ever to get on the track at Chengdu," an upbeat Karthikeyan said.
    
"It has been a long break and, after doing a good deal of physical training during the off season, I am feeling fit and am eager to get behind the wheel of the brand new Powered by Ferrari car," he said.
    
"I think we've got a really strong team, everybody is working well, and cooperation is really good," he added.
    
A1 Team India CEO Andaleeb Sehgal is also banking on the Karthikeyan to excel again in China.
    
"I am sure Narain has an ace up his sleeve," Sehgal said.
    
"The Chengdu race will be special for us as a team  as we had a memorable first win last year at China, I am happy and confident that Team India should be able to do a good job and be one of the front running teams this season," he said.
    
Though China has hosted five races in the last three seasons, the Chengdu International Circuit makes its A1GP debut this year.
    
The Chengdu race has a humanitarian aspect to it as well with the proceeds from the event going to the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund.