1. Karun Chandhok is an Indian former racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One at 11 Grands Prix from 2010 to 2011.
44 Facts About Karun Chandhok
1. 2.
Previously, Chandhok has competed for Hispania Racing in Formula One in 2010.
3.
In 2013, Karun Chandhok competed in the FIA GT Series for Seyffarth Motorsport.
4.
Since leaving F1, Karun Chandhok has served as an analyst, co-commentator and pit-lane reporter for a variety of British broadcasters.
5.
Karun Chandhok is a member of the FIA Driver's Commission.
6.
Karun Chandhok was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu and is the son of Vicky Karun Chandhok, multiple Indian rallying champion and president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India since 2003.
7.
Karun Chandhok's younger brother Suhail Chandhok is a commentator for Star Sports India.
8.
In 2000, Karun Chandhok was Indian National Racing Champion winning seven out of ten races in the Formula Maruti series.
9.
Karun Chandhok scored pole position and fastest lap in all ten races.
10.
In 2001, Karun Chandhok was the Formula 2000 Asia champion, becoming the youngest ever Asian Formula Champion, driving for Team India Racing.
11.
Karun Chandhok tested with British Formula 3 champion team Carlin Motorsport in 2001.
12.
Karun Chandhok raced in the National class in 2002, driving for T-Sport, finishing sixth in class.
13.
Karun Chandhok stayed with T-Sport in the National Class for 2003, and finished third in the final class standings, behind champion Ernesto Viso and runner-up Steven Kane.
14.
In 2004 Karun Chandhok stepped up to the main British Formula 3 class with T-Sport, and finished 14th in the standings.
15.
Karun Chandhok was instantly a top 5 qualifier and finisher when he partnered his compatriot Narain Karthikeyan at RC Motorsport in the World Series by Nissan for the final two rounds the 2004 season.
16.
Karun Chandhok moved to the GP2 Series in 2007, driving for Durango.
17.
Karun Chandhok led the sprint race in Turkey after starting from pole, only for the second place Kazuki Nakajima of DAMS to collide with him.
18.
Karun Chandhok remained in GP2 for 2008, switching to the iSport International team where he was partnered by Bruno Senna.
19.
Karun Chandhok won one race and finished tenth in the drivers' championship.
20.
Karun Chandhok drove for the team in the 2008 GP2 Asia Series season.
21.
Karun Chandhok was presented with the series' "Best Driving Style" award at the end of the season.
22.
Karun Chandhok signed to drive for the Ocean Racing Technology team in the 2009 GP2 Series season.
23.
Karun Chandhok amassed ten points in the championship, with a best result of third at Silverstone.
24.
Karun Chandhok was linked with the Force India team, which was created in 2008.
25.
Karun Chandhok said in Autosport, on 11 June 2010, that he was targeting a move to Force India for 2011.
26.
Karun Chandhok believed that the commercial benefits for the team running an Indian driver made him an obvious choice.
27.
Karun Chandhok began the 2010 season driving for Hispania Racing alongside former GP2 teammate Bruno Senna, becoming the second Indian driver to compete in Formula One after Narain Karthikeyan in 2005.
28.
Karun Chandhok was able to use the qualifying session to run his F110 for the first time.
29.
Karun Chandhok recorded the team's first classified finish when he ended up fourteenth in Australia.
30.
Karun Chandhok retired in the next three races with suspension failure in Spain, an accident with Jarno Trulli in Monaco and more technical problems in Turkey.
31.
Karun Chandhok finished 18th in Canada and Valencia, and 19th at Silverstone, but was dropped for the German Grand Prix onwards, in favour of Sakon Yamamoto.
32.
On 22 March 2011, Karun Chandhok was confirmed as a reserve driver at Team Lotus for the 2011 season.
33.
Karun Chandhok drove the car in free practice for the Australian Grand Prix, crashing out on the installation lap.
34.
Karun Chandhok reprised his co-commentary role for BBC Radio 5 Live at the Spanish Grand Prix.
35.
Karun Chandhok finished 20th and last, two laps behind teammate Heikki Kovalainen and a lap behind 19th placed Daniel Ricciardo.
36.
Karun Chandhok was 4 laps behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.
37.
Karun Chandhok was let go by Team Lotus after the Japanese Grand Prix, meaning he could not take part in his home Grand Prix 3 weeks later in India.
38.
Tony Fernandes and Karun Chandhok came to a financial settlement, but it was not completed until April 2013.
39.
For 2012, Karun Chandhok drove in the FIA World Endurance Championship for JRM Racing in a Honda Performance Development ARX-03a with co-drivers David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck.
40.
At the Le Mans 24 Hours, Karun Chandhok's team finished sixth overall out of the 56 starters.
41.
Karun Chandhok drove in the FIA GT Series for the 2013 season in a last minute deal for Seyffarth Racing.
42.
Karun Chandhok joined Armaan Ebrahim, who became the first Indian driver to be confirmed in the series.
43.
Karun Chandhok has worked for a variety of British broadcasters as part of their coverage of Formula One including the BBC and Channel 4.
44.
Karun Chandhok appeared on the Channel 5 programme Fifth Gear as a presenter and reporter.