Jehan receives award at CIK FIA Awards Function in Paris

India’s rising motorsport talent – Jehan Daruvala of the Sahara Force India Academy became the first and only Indian to receive an award at the CIK FIA Karting Awards. Jehan received the award for his victory at the CIK FIA Asia Pacific KF3 Championship in late Oct 2012.

The extravagant function to honour the winners of the 2012 official CIK FIA Championships, was held at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris & was well attended by prominent motorsport personalities. Jehan who raced with Rayo Racing at the Asia Pacific event in Macau, received his award in the presence of Jean Todt, President of the FIA & Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa – President of the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting)

Jehan Daruvala, started his career in mid 2009 after attending a training program with Rayo Racing. In only his 3rd event, Jehan had already bagged his first pole position in the JK Tyre National Karting Championship. In 2010, he dominated the micro max category in India. He first won the JK Tyre Rookie Cup & then went on to be crowned National Champion in the micro max category of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Karting Championship, with Rayo Racing. In 2011 he entered the highly competitive – Junior Category. He was quick from his very first event & went on to be crowned Champion in the Malaysian ASK series in the Junior Yamaha Category. Later in the year Jehan won the wildcard seat for 12 to 13 year olds in the Force India – One in a Billion event.

From there on, there was no looking back for the then, 12 year old racer. He went on to be selected as one of the 3 drivers to race in the UK for the Sahara Force India Academy, in the Superone series (UK National Championships). Showing immense potential Jehan was always close to the top. He finally proved his mettle by complete domination the last round of the UK National KF3 series. From pole in qualifying to victory in the final, the event was dominated by the young Indian & thus, he became the first and only Indian to win a race in Europe in Karting.

The Sahara Force India Academy driver, once again raced with Rayo Racing in the CIK FIA Asia Pacific KF3 Championship in Macau in Oct 2012, which was a  support race at the World Karting Championship event. Jehan was completely dominant and consistently on top of all the time sheets from practise to qualifying, to heats to the prefinal. Jehan however had a tough battle in the Final. He was relegated to 2nd spot by Japanese Champion – Marino Sato for most of the 21 lap race. On the last lap of the race Jehan overtook the leader & won the race in style.

His victory is the biggest till date by an Indian in International Karting. Said Jehan “Receiving my award for the CIK FIA Asia Pacific Championship at the biggest function in World Karting, means a lot to any racer. I still have a long way to go & hope to make my country proud. I would like to thank everyone at Sahara Force India Academy for their effort and faith in me. I would also like to thank Rayo Racing for their support in Macau. I have to also thank my parents & family for their unconditional support all these years”

Sahara Force India Academy have stepped up their program for Jehan in 2013. Jehan will be racing in various championships in Europe & will represent India in over 20 races this season.