"Taking up motor racing as a profession India is tough and still expensive. The affordability is low and I don't see much happening from the sponsors' point of view too. The sport in India has gone through a huge dip after we lost the Indian Grand Prix. Now, we don't even have a team [Sahara Force India] and no drivers. Right now, it's a bit of a lull," said Karthikeyan, a former F1 driver with Jordan (2005) and HRT (2010-11).

Things can look up in future though, felt the Coimbatore-based racer, who currently drives for Honda in the Japanese GT 500 Championship alongside the likes of former F1 World Champion Jenson Button. "Now, with the likes of Gautam Singhania representing us at the FIA World Motor Sports Council, there is a sense of hope. Hopefully he can take up the mantle and push some youngsters," added Karthikeyan.

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