Hope to hit F1 grid soon, says Kush
Naveen Peter, February 4, 2016, Bengaluru, DHNS
Life in the fast lane : Bengaluru teen all set for SMP F4, Spanish F4 championships
Over the years, the Mainis have become a household name in Indian motorsports. While the father, Gautam, was a racer in his teens, it is the success brought in by his children, Arjun and Kush, in the past few years that has fired the imagination of the racing fraternity.
The 2015 season too was no different for the Mainis. While Arjun continued his fine run in the European F3 championship, Kush was not far behind as he matched up to his older brother with a stellar season in karting. The season also saw the 15-year-old become the first-ever Asian to win the prestigious Trofeo Andrea Margutti, apart from finishing a respectable second in his first-ever KF (the senior level of European karting) seaon.
And now with the 2016 season inching closer for Kush, who will be racing in the one-make SMP F4 and Spanish F4 championships, Deccan Herald spoke to the young racer about his coming season, goals and expectations going into the world of Formula 4.
Excerpts
You have raced in Europe before, but in karts. How excited are you to head back to Europe this time?
I am really excited. All the more, the experience this time will be totally different as I’ll be in formula cars. A different team, different countries and so on. I am really looking forward to it.
After enjoying a quality season in the karting circuit what promoted you to make the switch to formula cars?
There are a few reasons. The first one being, I’m becoming too big for the karts. Physically, I find it difficult to get into a kart. And moreover, I think I’ve had enough experience in karting now, I started when I was five. I think I am ready to make that transition into formula cars. I am looking forward to the new challenge.
How much do you thing the time as a kart racer helps you in making a successful transition into formula cars?
Oh yes, it’s (time in karts) taught me a lot. I started to compete in 2012. But the first year was just a learning period. I didn’t go in with hopes of winning anything. But then, from 2013, I’ve been doing really well in Europe and in Asia. It was then when I got a podium in the WSK (World Series of Karting) events. I was the only Asian back then to achieve the feat. And then the five podiums in last year itself. So, it’s being a really good time. I think now would be the perfect time for a switch and I’ll be taking all the experience I’ve gained from racing in Europe and Asia. The overtaking, the pace of the race, its timing and so on. Moreover, I’ve noticed that the racers in Europe are quite aggressive so that’s something I’ll be looking at.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge this season?
I think the biggest difference between a kart and a formula car is the gears. I am learning the gears in the simulation here and I’m clocking good timing. But then the real thing will any day be different. So we’ll have to wait and watch. That could be the biggest challenge.
What would be the one thing that always pushes and motivates Kush Maini to do well?
I have a target fixed for myself. I want to make sure that I hit the Formula One grid as soon as possible. I want to show the world that even Indians are capable of racing on the biggest stage.
What are your expectations in the new season?
A top-five finish. But then again I’ve missed a good amount of practice time due to my shoulder injury (a shoulder injury after a crash at his debut in shifted karts in Lonato del Garda, Italy in December 2015). But I’ve made up for that in the past few months.
The 2015 season too was no different for the Mainis. While Arjun continued his fine run in the European F3 championship, Kush was not far behind as he matched up to his older brother with a stellar season in karting. The season also saw the 15-year-old become the first-ever Asian to win the prestigious Trofeo Andrea Margutti, apart from finishing a respectable second in his first-ever KF (the senior level of European karting) seaon.
And now with the 2016 season inching closer for Kush, who will be racing in the one-make SMP F4 and Spanish F4 championships, Deccan Herald spoke to the young racer about his coming season, goals and expectations going into the world of Formula 4.
Excerpts
You have raced in Europe before, but in karts. How excited are you to head back to Europe this time?
I am really excited. All the more, the experience this time will be totally different as I’ll be in formula cars. A different team, different countries and so on. I am really looking forward to it.
After enjoying a quality season in the karting circuit what promoted you to make the switch to formula cars?
There are a few reasons. The first one being, I’m becoming too big for the karts. Physically, I find it difficult to get into a kart. And moreover, I think I’ve had enough experience in karting now, I started when I was five. I think I am ready to make that transition into formula cars. I am looking forward to the new challenge.
How much do you thing the time as a kart racer helps you in making a successful transition into formula cars?
Oh yes, it’s (time in karts) taught me a lot. I started to compete in 2012. But the first year was just a learning period. I didn’t go in with hopes of winning anything. But then, from 2013, I’ve been doing really well in Europe and in Asia. It was then when I got a podium in the WSK (World Series of Karting) events. I was the only Asian back then to achieve the feat. And then the five podiums in last year itself. So, it’s being a really good time. I think now would be the perfect time for a switch and I’ll be taking all the experience I’ve gained from racing in Europe and Asia. The overtaking, the pace of the race, its timing and so on. Moreover, I’ve noticed that the racers in Europe are quite aggressive so that’s something I’ll be looking at.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge this season?
I think the biggest difference between a kart and a formula car is the gears. I am learning the gears in the simulation here and I’m clocking good timing. But then the real thing will any day be different. So we’ll have to wait and watch. That could be the biggest challenge.
What would be the one thing that always pushes and motivates Kush Maini to do well?
I have a target fixed for myself. I want to make sure that I hit the Formula One grid as soon as possible. I want to show the world that even Indians are capable of racing on the biggest stage.
What are your expectations in the new season?
A top-five finish. But then again I’ve missed a good amount of practice time due to my shoulder injury (a shoulder injury after a crash at his debut in shifted karts in Lonato del Garda, Italy in December 2015). But I’ve made up for that in the past few months.
No comments:
Post a Comment