“The Fastest Indian in the World”, Narain Karthikeyan has been rated as the top Indian racing driver in the world, ranking 126^th in the overall world classifications, a massive 1,353 points, and 75 places ahead of his nearest Indian rival. The Castrol Rankings, which are powered by AUTOSPORT.com, were launched at the AUTOSPORT International Exhibition in Birmingham, UK, on 14 January 2010.

David Coulthard, who launched motorsports first ever definitive ranking system believes the new Castrol Rankings system will show who is the best racing driver in the world, across all the major categories of motorsport. He explained that the new system will accurately compare the performances of more than 2,000 drivers.

“As a fan of motorsport, I have always been curious to know who are the best drivers,” Coulthard said. “Growing up back in Scotland I used to read AUTOSPORT cover-to-cover, anything that was in there at the time, irrespective of whether it was single-seaters or another form of racing. You tend to think F1 is the pinnacle, but is it rallying? Is it sportscars? Is it some guy racing in Australian Formula 3? I didn’t know until last night that there is an Australian F3 championship! This initiative gives us the opportunity to look at over 2000 drivers and come up with a definitive ranking. I’m curious to know what the future holds.”

Each driver is given a score depending on his qualifying position and race results from each event that counts towards the Castrol Rankings. Additional points are given for the fastest lap, leading the race or rally, leading the most laps, finishing on the lead lap, most positions gained and starting the event. The driver’s Castrol Index Score is multiplied by a pre-determined weighting. The weighting, calculated by Castrol performance Analysts is based on the type of race or rally being contested. The more important the event, the higher the weighting. Points are then adjusted depending on the number of rounds in the championship – in order to equalise each series to a theoretical 20 rounds. Every week, the drivers’ points are added to their previous points to provide a Castrol Rankings total, covering the last 12 months of competition,

Jenson Button topped the 2009 rankings, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb. Coulthard reckons the Castrol Rankings will show who does the best job in 2010. The important thing with the ranking system is that it rewards finishing and consistency. It’s not just about the glory shot of winning a particular race.

The Force India formula one team is budding with energy thanks to Vijay Mallya and his fresh input of much needed capital. But most Indians were sad at the fact that Vijay Mallya even though he named the team Force India, didnt get an Indian driver. That might change if Karun is indeed given the testing role for the 2009 season of formula one. Who knows he might be given the racing seat for the 2010 formula one season and we may see an Indian driving an Indian formula one car on a formula one race track in India.

“I would love to give Karun a go as a test driver first,” Vijay Mallya was quoted

“The race seat I think he is a year away from.

“I need to see him winning GP2 consistently, not an odd one here and there.

“He has it in him to do it and when he does it, sure I would love to have an Indian driver in the car if I could.

“But at the end of the day, on the one hand I cannot be encouraging the team’s performance and then doing something that might compromise the result.

“I don’t believe that Karun is there yet. I’m not saying he won’t get there. I am hoping he will.”

Karun Chandhok wins best driving style award

In more news , Indian driver Karun Chandhok also won the best driving style award at a glittering ceremony at Club Monza. Karun had had a fantastic season with iSport.

“Overall, it’s been a positive season. I am very pleased with the progress I have made this year,”  Karun Chandhok said.

“Winning my second GP2 race was a big highlight, and having been a regular front runner this year has put me in a good position in the que of drivers trying to break into Formula 1,”

“To win the award for the ‘best driving style’ is a fantastic way to end the season, and one I feel really proud of. It was the only award that was voted for by the fans of the championship on the GP2 website which makes it more special.”

“That’s the first time I have scored points on a Sunday this year – and there couldn’t have been a better way to do it , I didn’t get a great start. The team fitted a new clutch overnight and I just didn’t manage to find the sweet spot. I got far too much wheel spin off the line, but I wasn’t too worried because I saw yesterday that Lucas di Grassi wears his tyres harder than we do  he was already starting to get sideways on the second lap. I sold him a nice dummy at the hairpin next time around and that was that.”

Is formula one calling already ?