Twenty-four hours of Le Mans is probably the toughest endurance racing event anywhere in the world where a team of 3 drivers races non-stop for 24 hours. And an Indian participation in the iconic annual event could well happen next year. It has been announced that a new entity called Racing Team India will become the first team of all-Indian drivers to compete globally in the world of endurance racing. A star-studded lineup of Indian drivers, including Narain Karthikeyan, Arjun Maini and Naveen Rao, will spearhead the team’s campaign in the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series in February, with an eye on competing in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in France later in the year.
The Asian Le Mans Series, to be held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on February 5-6 and February 19-20, comprises four races spread over the two race weekends, with each race lasting four hours. The Indian team will drive an ORECA 07 car in the LMP2 class, and have technical support from the championship-winning Algarve Pro Racing Team. Gautam Singhania, who is a member of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Motor Sport Council, will lead the team at the event. Arjun Maini’s experience in endurance racing will come in handy for the team, having driven for Algarve Pro Racing Team in the 2020 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
India’s first Formula One driver Karthikeyan will get another shot at Le Mans. “I have been dreaming of going back to Le Mans for a few years now. This is probably the most exciting project in my career as a racing driver,” Narain said. “We have a young and fledgling team and it will no doubt be a big test for us, but I am confident of doing well,” he added. Racing Team India has also associated with JK Tyre, as one of its inaugural partners. The latter has been instrumental in developing and supporting both Narain and Arjun over the past two decades.
MARUTI BUILDING HOMES
India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has announced that it has completed a housing township of affordable modern eco-friendly houses for its employees in Dharuhera, Haryana. On Wednesday, the company handed over the first batch of houses to its employees. The remaining apartments out of a total of 360 are expected to be ready for possession in a staggered manner. The project is called Maruti Suzuki Enclave, and is located not too far from company’s manufacturing facilities in Manesar and Gurugram
Maruti has been working on this principle right from inception. It launched its first housing project in 1989 at Gurugram and its second project in 1994 also came up in the same city. The company says it is already exploring more housing projects based on employee needs. Unlike usual employee housing projects, the houses in this township will be owned and managed by the employees themselves. Maruti has facilitated employees by way of bulk negotiation for land and building, coordination with government for approvals and monitoring the quality and execution through a professional agency.
The project has been carried out using the ecologically-friendly practices and expertise of the company. Maruti Suzuki Enclave hosts well-maintained gardens, LED street lights, rainwater harvesting, sewage treatment plant (STP), water treatment plant and electrical substation, among others. These apartments feature the modern Monolithic Construction Technology where the whole structure along with the slab is casted in a single go avoiding the use of bricks, thereby reducing pollution and time drastically. Provided with security, homes will have access to all kinds of utility services.
Dedicating the housing project to employees, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “A good affordable and hygienic house is one of the basic needs of employees. All the eligible employees who opted for this location will be soon entering their new homes. With the launch of Maruti Suzuki Enclave housing project, we wish to convey our sense of partnership and gratitude to our employees and their families. We also thank the Central government and the State Government for their affordable housing friendly policies that have enabled our employees to fulfil their aspirations to own a house.”