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Paris, Jan 22 (IANS): Jehan Daruvala, the 14-year old from Mumbai and a member of the Sahara Force India Academy, received the CIK FIA Karting Award here Sunday for his victory at the Asia Pacific KF3 Championship in late October 2012.
The extravagant function to honour the winners of the 2012 official CIK FIA championship was held at the Pavillon Gabriel and was 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 FIA president Jean Todt and Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting).
Jehan started his career in mid-2009 after attending a training programme with Rayo Racing. In only his third event, Jehan had already bagged his first pole position in the JK Tyre National Karting Championship.
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In 2010, he dominated the micro max category in the Indian championship. He first won the JK Tyre Rookie Cup and went on to be crowned National Champion in the micro max category of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Karting Championship.
In 2011, he won 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’s One-in-a-Billion talent hunt and one of the three drivers selected for the Sahara Force India Academy programme.
Jehan proved his mettle by dominating the last round of the UK National KF3 series that he won after qualifying in pole position. He thus became the first and only Indian to win a karting race in Europe.
Jehan’s crowning moment in 2012 came at Macau where he once again raced with Rayo Racing in the CIK FIA Asia Pacific KF3 event which was a support race at the World Karting Championship event.
Jehan said: “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 and 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.”
Sahara Force India Academy have stepped up their programme for Jehan in 2013. He will be racing in various championships in Europe and represent India in over 20 races this season.
