JK Racing Asia Series at Buddh this weekend

Further cementing its status as the a Junior driver development program, the JK Racing Asia Series have confirmed the participation of four young up and coming drivers from India for the Rounds held this weekend at Buddh International Circuit.
The JK Racing Asia Series (replacement Series for Formula BMW Pacific) will run Rounds 11 & 12 of the 2012 Season as part of the 2012 Formula 1 AIRTEL Indian Grand Prix held from 26 to 28 October.
Three of these young drivers will take part under Meco Racing team, headed by Akbar Ebrahim, a former race driver and father of Armaan Ebrahim who at 15 years old, was the youngest Formula BMW Asia driver in 2005. The remaining driver will be under Mahara, a sister team to Meritus.GP headed by Peter Thompson.
Visnu Prasad, Chetan Korada, Akhil Rabindra and Karmnder Pal Singh will all follow in the footsteps of local heroes Aditya Patel and Akhil Khushlani in trying to make their mark in the motorsport arena. Both Patel and Khushlani are also participating this weekend with Patel in US Formula Project while Khushlani is with current Championship leading team, Eurointernational.
Patel is India’s youngest racing sensation and JK Tyre prodigy who created history in Indian motorsport by becoming the first Indian driver to win the gruelling 24 hours of Nurburgring last May. Meanwhile, Khushlani has kept himself busy the past year building a business and he blew everyone away last September when took part in Rounds 9 & 10 claiming one podium over the weekend.
The local hopefuls will join current Championship leader, Malaysian Nabil Jeffri, in the fight for recognition in front of the Formula 1 fraternity. The Series drivers have just returned from a three race tour of Europe, competing at the legendary French circuit Paul Ricard at the end of June, at Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps at the end of July and UK’s Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit last September.
Jeffri has maintained his lead in the points with a somewhat comfortable 42 points gap from second placed driver, Aston Hare. Despite being disappointed at not clinching any wins in Silverstone, the 19 year old is ready to face the challenge and his confidence is boosted by being recently appointed the Brand Ambassador of PruBSN.  
Meanwhile, his South African teammate, will be out to play catch up this weekend after missing out the last two rounds while recovering from a broken ankle. 16 year old Hare has been strong throughout the season, claiming seven podium finishes, including three wins, out of eight races so far.
The Eurointernational duo will have a tough time fending off Meritus.GP’s Afiq Ikhwan who has had a difficult season so far. But Ikhwan is fresh from two back to back wins he claimed in Silverstone and is sure to want to continue this time at a track he knows, having been here last year.
Officially launched on 18th October 2011, the Buddh International Circuit is a 5.125km track with 16 turns set across 874 acres of land as part of the Jaypee Greens Sport City. Buddh circuit is located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, about 25km from the capital city of Delhi. The USD400 million Herman Tilke designed circuit boasts one of the longest main straights at 1060 meters and the highest point of the track is 14 meters on turn 3.
The JK Racing Asia Series Qualifying session is scheduled for Saturday, 27 October 2012 at 9.15am with Round 11 held at 3.30pm the same day. Round 12 is scheduled for Sunday, 28 October at 12pm.