Ajith takes public for an F-3 ride
By PC Vinoj Kumar in Chennai       09/29/03

Two years after actor Ajith Kumar took to motor sports, the actor is accused of taking a lot of people for a ride with his claims of success at the international circuit and his plans to enter the British Formula 3 Scholarship Series.
Critics have accused the actor and his PR agency of purposefully misleading public opinion giving the impression that Ajith ‘would break into the Formula 3 circuit’ very soon.

While Ajith’s performance in the Formula BMW Asia Championship has never been impressive, his spin-doctors have raved about his performance.

On conclusion of Asian Formula BMW series in Korea, a press release said, ‘Ajith Kumar moves onto a higher gear in the Asian Formula BMW Series in Korea."

The press statement said, "With every race Ajith’s performance is steadily improving and it now looks to be a real possibility for Ajith to do the British Formula 3 scholarship series next year," giving the impression that Ajith was set to qualify to a higher level.

Far from it, there is no question of ‘breaking into’ the British Formula 3 Scholarship Series, say experts.

"You don’t need to qualify for Formula 3 Scholarship class. You could make it if you are a normal human being with sound faculties and lot of money," says Hairsh Samtani, a Chennai based former Formula 2 racer.

Vicky Chandok, another Formula 2 racer and father of current motor sensation of the country, Karun Chandok, who had put his son in the Scholarship series couple of years ago, confirms it.

"There is an old saying in motor sports, ‘speed costs money… how fast you want to go," laughs Vicky, whose son is all set to break into the Formula 3 A class, which is where the real racing begins.

According to Vicky, the stint at British Formula 3 Scholarship Series could cost anywhere between Rs 1 crore to 1.5 crore. In other words, if one has the flair for racing and that kind of money, anyone could join the Formula 3 Scholarship series, any day.

But the transition from Formula 3 Scholarship to Formula 3 A Class, is not an easy joke and it is easier than done.

"If Ajith is aiming for Formula 3 A class, he better do a reality check," says Samtani.

Echoing Samtani’s view, a sports journalist says. "Ajith can’t hope to succeed at the Formula 3 A class because, firstly, he is overweight, and secondly he is past the racing age. People start racing in their teens and early twenties. Some have even started when they were as small as eight or nine years on the kart track."

This raises an ethical question on whether sponsors should be putting that kind of money on Ajith, who is in his early thirties, instead of supporting a promising youngster? Motor enthusiasts admit in private that ideally sponsors should be supporting youngsters and not someone past his prime.

Laments Samtani: "The sponsors are looking at mileage. Nobody has long-term plans. No one is prepared to invest in a youngster and wait for him to deliver the goods. All of them want instant results. If a youngster finishes in a low position, he doesn’t make news. But Ajit creates news no matter what position he finishes."

As for Ajith, he has a track record of various passions at various times. About a decade ago he had been a bike freak and had tried his luck in Sholavaram.

He could not reach the top there, and today his memories of racing are reflected in the snazzy foreign bikes that he owns.

Before he took a fancy for racecars, Ajith raved about his fondness for bikes and even told a reporter how he reached the shooting location racing in his bike in 15 minutes flat, which otherwise would have taken him 45 minutes by car.

In fact, at the time of the income tax raid at his residence last year, IT officials found four expensive foreign bikes in his residence.

Last year he was in the news with his imported Kawasaki ZX-12R bike. From bikes, Ajith’s passion suddenly turned to flying and he started taking flying lessons at the Madras Flying Club.

He said in an interview, "I am learning flying and I am just an hour away from my pilot’s license." At one-stage reports said that he was planning to buy his own aircraft after he got a pilot’s license.

But that was before he took the fast lane!