Karthikeyan participates in Mumbai go-karting competition

Mumbai, Apr 19 (ANI): India's top racing driver Narain Karthikeyan participated in a go-karting competition in Mumbai on Saturday.

Karthikeyan said motor sports would need some time to gain popularity in India.

"I think over the years, racing has got its fair share of media coverage and definitely it's well covered. Obviously, it's an expensive sport. We need a lot of corporate support.

We need more infrastructures. So, it will need some time to get popular with the masses, but it's getting there. We are hopeful that in the near future that a lot of drivers will come out of India," said Karthikeyan.

Over 250 school children took part in the go-karting Challenger competiton.

"I think it's a very interesting way of bringing the personality of the kids out and my son is doing it for the first time. He used to come for go-karting very rarely and when he read it in the newspaper he wanted to come here and join it," said Lata, a mother.Karthikeyan became India's first Formula One driver in 2005 when he signed for Jordan, stoking ambitions in the fast lane for the nation with a booming economy and youngsters looking to pick up sports other than cricket.

His tenure with Jordan proved unproductive and a two-year testing role with Williams gave him few opportunities.

Karthikeyan secured the first race win for Team India in the A1 Grand Prix series in China last year. (ANI)