Chennai: A 16-year-old German will be the cynosure of all eyes at the Irungattukottai race track this weekend. Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael, will make his debut in the MRF Challenge.
The teenager was the first competitor to land in the city to get acclimatised to the car and new racing environment.
F1 superstar Schumacher has been in coma from 2013 after suffering life-threatening injuries in a skiing accident. The 45-year-old is currently being treated in a purpose-built medical suite at his lakeside home in Geneva.
His condition, however, hasn’t stopped Schumacher Jr from competing in Formula car races. As Schumacher’s health status is a closely-guarded secret, media and even fellow racers are kept at bay from Mick.
The Chennai event, finale of the series, previous rounds of which were organised at Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, has attracted a star-studded line-up.
Schumacher Jr will be up against the likes of Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of former F1 star Emerson, Harrison Newey, son of F1 technical wizard Adrian, and Giuliano Alesi, son of ex-Ferrari star Jean. Chennai boy Tarun Reddy is the lone Indian in the fray.
