‘GP culture takes long time to develop’

Finland’s Kovalainen and 28-year-old Russian team-mate Vitaly Petrov spent a short time in an informal chat with the media before moving on to the Capital to prepare for Sunday’s the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Petrov is the new circuit driver to the team owned by Malaysian Tony Fernandes whose team was earlier called Team Lotus. Fernandes is also the Air Asia CEO.

Currently placed 10th out of the 12-team field, Caterham F1 has GE, a leading global technology and infrastructure company, as a premium partner.

The tie-up with GE provides extensive brand and business benefits to both parties, providing the Caterham F1 Team with leading edge technological, R&D and manufacturing resources that will help accelerate the team’s progress, on and off track, the company profile says. Caterham’s engines are provided by Renault.

Motor racing must have character to get itself deeply rooted in a country, Kovalainen said.

“Here the GP culture is new and will take longer to settle in. The Abu Dhabi GP is a great start but the people must get involved in a big way. The culture building process has to come from the hearts, not anywhere else.”

“I was interested in rallying first and then the success stories of our heroes on the F1 scene got me into it. Finland have terrific kart drivers. You see the Euro championships in all the categories — the Finns are picked up regularly by the promoters and teams after an event. Ice hockey is our national game and the youngsters are deeply into F1 more than rallying these days,’ said Kovalainen.

“In Asia and Japan, an F1 driver is recognised almost everywhere and they are not bothered where one stands on the points list or whether you are part of a top team,’’ said the 31-year-old Kovalainen. “Fan following is so intense and once they spot you, like say at a traffic light in Japan, they converge on you in seconds, staring at you in awe. It’s a great feeling for the drivers and an incentive to do better.”

Going on to the weekend’s Abu Dhabi leg, to be followed by the US and Brazil GPs for the 2012 calendar, Kovalainen said: “I think the event (Abu Dhabi) is the best organised overall — the pit management and the related oganisational matters are top class. It’s not the best of destinations in terms of speed because of the smaller tight corners, but the surface hold is brilliant. The hug like feeling is superb in Abu Dhabi.”

Petrov has no problems with the turns and twists at Yas Marina. “It’s got a grand straight, and an up and down climb out of the tight corners. The ‘wall’ which we don’t get time to see hasn’t occurred to me at all. It’s smooth and simple like Keikki mentioned when answering a journalist’s question.”

moni@khaleejtimes.com