Karun gets ready for battle in Indonesia

Jakarta, July 22 (UNI) Currently lying second in the points standings, Karun Chandhok would be hoping to wipe out the arrears in the 2006 Formula Asia V6 by Renault series in its Indonesian leg at the Sentul circuit here.

And the young Indian looked primed for that finishing fastest in yesterday's practice session in his maiden appearance at Sentul.

Looking forward to re-claiming the top spot in the championship, the Indian race sensation is just eight points behind Bahraini driver Hammad Al Fardan.

Though Indonesia has been rocked this week by the earthquake and tsunami, Karun is least perturbed and hopes it to be a thrilling action, especially after the championship saw four different winners - Karun, Hammad, Matt Halliday and Ananda Mikola - from as many races in this inaugural season.

In yesterday's practice session, Karun ended up fastest with a time of 1:22.6, with Halliday, a regular podium finisher in A1 Grand Prix, second on a 1:22.7 and local hero Mikola on a 1:23.2. The drivers have one more half hour practice session today before the qualifying.

''We had a great start to the season winning the opening race comfortably but this weekend it looks like it's going to be a hard battle. Ananda has grown up at this track and can drive it blindfolded I think. Matt is very quick and knows the circuit also from the A1 race here so from that point of view I'm quite happy to be up there in practice. It's quite a technical circuit and also very hard on tyres so the races are going to be very difficult.

''The weather is quite humid also which will make it quite a physical challenge I think. Thus far the car has been very good and the team has worked hard to rectify some of the problems we had at the second round which cost us some points I think. I'm looking forward to it,'' he said.

The two races are scheduled tomorrow with 16 laps in the first one and 28 laps for the second.

Karun, who drives for the Korean based E-Rain Racing team, is backed for this season by JK Tyre along with Scottish and Newcastle and Amaron Batteries.

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