19-year-old Howard Fuller will race on the Formula 1 support bill this weekend (28/29/30 October) when he competes in the MRF Delhi Championship at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix.
The Surrey speedster has been invited to take part in the event along with a host of other highly rated opposition, including Formula Renault 2.0 UK series regulars Alice Powell and Jordan King. Fresh from his team leading season at Hillspeed in the Formula Renault BARC series, Fuller will also face familiar opposition in the shape of his Indian team-mate Zaamin Jaffer. Eight Indian drivers are expected to take on the international field of young talent at the prestigious event, with a total of 20 drivers set to compete.
Fuller ran well during pre-event testing, despite the car being completely new to him. The drivers will be piloting identical Van Diemen single-seater chassis that boasts a 1.6 litre Ford Duratec Engine. It is effectively a Formula Ford car with ‘slicks and wings’ and has been rigorously tested by a host of professional drivers, including India’s biggest F1 star Narain Karthikeyan. With the double-header of MRF Formula 1600 races being billed as the support event to the Grand Prix itself, Fuller has a real chance to impress the F1 paddock on the 5.1 kilometre Buddh International Circuit (BIC).
“It’s an honour to be racing in India and to be a part of the country’s first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix,” said Fuller. “It is a really strong line up in terms of talent so I am looking forward to the challenge very much. It is just a shootout for the two races over the weekend and all the cars will be identical, which is something I haven’t been able to enjoy so far this season. It is just a really exciting prospect and will be a great way to close out the 2011 season – I just can’t wait to get out on the track and to get a taste of the Formula 1 paddock too.”
Fuller left for India in fine form having produced two fantastic drives in the Formula Renault BARC series finale at Silverstone last time out. The teenager blasted by a total of 13 cars in the two races, claiming an event high of eighth place in the weekend opener. Despite it being Fuller’s maiden season in the series, he finished as the highest placed Hillspeed team driver in the championship.
