09/07/2010
NEWS STORY
Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) has agreed to a partnership with Hispania Racing's Karun Chandhok starting with this week's British Grand Prix. The team's car will carry the Jaypee Group logo.
JPSI, a Jaypee Group company, is currently constructing a 5.14km long first world-class motor racing circuit near Greater Noida, about 40km from New Delhi. This circuit is expected to host the inaugural F1 race in India in October/November 2011.
Chandhok will act as Brand Ambassador for Jaypee, endorsing the Group, its brands and its products. Jaypee Group will also have exclusive rights to sell Hispania Racing and Karun Chandhok merchandise in Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Chandhok, who is currently the only Indian driver on the F1 grid, won the Formula Asia Championship in 2001 and the Formula Asia V6 Renault Championship in 2006. Before entering F1, he drove in the GP2 Series for three years, winning two races.
Jose Ramon Carabante, Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team owner: "We are very pleased to have a new company sponsoring us and supporting Formula 1. And the fact that next year India is expected to host a Formula 1 race also makes us happy. We want to welcome Jaypee Sports International to our team and hope we work positively together".
Shri Sameer Gaur, Managing Director, JPSI: "We are very happy to be sponsoring Karun Chandhok in Formula 1. He is a talented racing driver and deserves all the support that we can provide. Apart from establishing our commitment towards F1, we also hope this move will provide a flip to the popularity of F1 racing in India and build excitement for the first F1 race that we hope to host in the country towards the end of next year."
Mr Mark Hughes, Vice-President (Operations), JPSI: "With JPSI sponsoring Karun Chandhok for the remainder of the 2010 F1 Season, we hope to significantly boost the level of interest in this sport in India. For businesses, top-flight motorsport coming to the country in 2011 will open up a whole new range of opportunities for brand-building, high-end corporate entertainment, sponsorship deals and, ultimately, revenue generation. We're glad to be playing a major role in getting this started."
Karun Chandhok: "It's a great privilege for us to have the Jaypee Group as a partner. They have taken the bold step to bring the Formula 1 World Championship to India next year and it's something I am very excited about. To be the Indian driver on the grid for the first Indian Grand Prix next year will be very special for me and I look forward to working with the Gaur family and their team at Jaypee to make sure the Indian Grand Prix is a huge success for all of us."