The Indian Le Mans Project

**Bentley03** · 9 Jan 2007, 21:42 (Ref:1810758)

Here's an interesting piece of news.........

Plans are underway for an 'Indian' race team to run in the Le Mans Series and at Le Mans in 2007. The aim of the project is to produce Indian 'talent' in the world of motor racing to boost the profile of the sport in India.

A Courage LC70 will be prepared and run by Courage Competition at the Le Mans 24 hour race with two Indian drivers (most likely Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok) and a Le Mans veteran (perhaps Jean-Marc Gounon).

An LC75 will also be prepared and run by Courage Competition both at Le Mans and for the full season of Le Mans Series races. This 'junior' car will have an all Indian driver line-up which will move up to the LMP1 in 2008.

The man behind this project is Sirish Chandran. The news comes courtesy of an article on DSC.

The livery can be seen here on the Courage Competition website.

HORNDAWG · 9 Jan 2007, 21:50 (Ref:1810766)

Good news, another team coming on.

L.P.

Hammerdown · 9 Jan 2007, 21:59 (Ref:1810775)

Any news on the engines?

Mugen for the LMP1 I would think. Acura/Honda for the P2?

jhansen · 9 Jan 2007, 22:07 (Ref:1810779)

Will Courage continue on with their own team as well, or will this take the place of the Courage Competition entry?

**Bentley03** · 9 Jan 2007, 22:14 (Ref:1810786)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

Any news on the engines?

Mugen for the LMP1 I would think. Acura/Honda for the P2?

No news on engine choice.

The guy behind the project explained to Graham that it was still early days. Sponsorship from exclusively Indian companies is being sought. Hopefully everything will come together in due course and this will not turn out to be another pipedream.........

rdjones · 9 Jan 2007, 22:17 (Ref:1810789)

It's a good little story, I hope it all works out for them and its opening our part of the sport to a new market.

**Bentley03** · 9 Jan 2007, 22:24 (Ref:1810796)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

Will Courage continue on with their own team as well, or will this take the place of the Courage Competition entry?

Good question. To my mind, this has all the hallmarks of becoming the Courage Competition works entry for 2007.

jhansen · 9 Jan 2007, 23:10 (Ref:1810829)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Good question. To my mind, this has all the hallmarks of becoming the Courage Competition works entry for 2007.

I kind of think so to. Not a new entry per say.

Flat12-Aircool · 9 Jan 2007, 23:26 (Ref:1810839)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

Any news on the engines?

Mugen for the LMP1 I would think. Acura/Honda for the P2?

Yes it's a turbo charged version of this engine...

Sorry folks, just couldn't resist it!

AU N EGL · 10 Jan 2007, 00:10 (Ref:1810860)

Just because some rich guy or group can buy a car and team does not mean they have the skill to race in an event like LM24.

They should go though the normal qualifing process, i.e. race a year or two first to EARN a FIA A or B lic

jhansen · 10 Jan 2007, 01:26 (Ref:1810893)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Just because some rich guy or group can buy a car and team does not mean they have the skill to race in an event like LM24.

They should go though the normal qualifing process, i.e. race a year or two first to EARN a FIA A or B lic

From Bentley's post, it sounds like Courage Competition will "prepare and run" the car. So there is some experience involved.

HORNDAWG · 10 Jan 2007, 02:17 (Ref:1810911)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Just because some rich guy or group can buy a car and team does not mean they have the skill to race in an event like LM24.

They should go though the normal qualifing process, i.e. race a year or two first to EARN a FIA A or B lic

The two Indians named as the probable drivers are experienced.
F-1 licensed
Narian Karthikeyan: in 05 drove for Jordan and in 06 was the Williams test driver.

Karun Chandhok: not quite as elevated but still Brit.formula 3, A1 GP, 06 Asian formula Renault V-6 Champion. He is also an instructor at Silverstone's F-1 venue.
Sounds to me like they are Qualified drivers!

L.P.

AU N EGL · 10 Jan 2007, 02:22 (Ref:1810914)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

The two Indians named as the probable drivers are experienced.
F-1 licensed
Narian Karthikeyan: in 05 drove for Jordan and in 06 was the Williams test driver.

Karun Chandhok: not quite as elevated but still Brit.formula 3, A1 GP, 06 Asian formula Renault V-6 Champion. He is also an instructor at Silverstone's F-1 venue.
Sounds to me like they are Qualified drivers!

L.P.

As long as they are.

The359 · 10 Jan 2007, 02:38 (Ref:1810924)

Narain Karthikayen has the personal backing of Tata, so expect them to sponsor the car.

I wonder if it could even go so far as to having Tata-badged engines...

**Bentley03** · 10 Jan 2007, 08:22 (Ref:1811028)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

The two Indians named as the probable drivers are experienced.
F-1 licensed
Narian Karthikeyan: in 05 drove for Jordan and in 06 was the Williams test driver.

Karun Chandhok: not quite as elevated but still Brit.formula 3, A1 GP, 06 Asian formula Renault V-6 Champion. He is also an instructor at Silverstone's F-1 venue.
Sounds to me like they are Qualified drivers!

The third 'Indian' name associated with this project is Aarman Ebrahim. A quick 'google' established that he is the youngest driver in A1 Grand Prix (so fits the mould perfectly for this project).

canam · 10 Jan 2007, 09:30 (Ref:1811097)

Given that Courage will (generally always) get two entries, it looks like this Indian Courage will have one of them. I think it will be great if this happens as it brings a new competitor in the series in the longer term. After they dip their toes in the water, I could see them running their own car over time. Right now, they will have to play te 'Courage Game' if they are to get the LM entry.

The359 · 10 Jan 2007, 10:06 (Ref:1811131)

Does this mean we're likely to have an Indian Courage and a Japanese Courage (to go with Yokohama and Mugen)?

**Bentley03** · 10 Jan 2007, 10:22 (Ref:1811145)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The359

Does this mean we're likely to have an Indian Courage and a Japanese Courage (to go with Yokohama and Mugen)?

Given the information we have so far, that would appear to be the most likely scenario. But that does assume, of course, that the announcement that the Mugen/Courage partnership was to be a three year project, still stands.

ensign14 · 10 Jan 2007, 10:26 (Ref:1811154)

Hm, think I'll tikka look at this.

LC2guy · 10 Jan 2007, 12:01 (Ref:1811286)

Oh for gods sake Korma off it

ensign14 · 10 Jan 2007, 12:12 (Ref:1811291)

I knew you'd come bhajing in like that.

LC2guy · 10 Jan 2007, 12:26 (Ref:1811305)

Sorry it took so long to reply, i was vindaloo

brielga · 10 Jan 2007, 12:28 (Ref:1811309)

stop wobbling those heads!!!

ensign14 · 10 Jan 2007, 13:37 (Ref:1811406)

Oh, so THAT's what you were doing in there, LC2...

LC2guy · 10 Jan 2007, 13:49 (Ref:1811424)

Yeah, getting my head wobbled

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