Motor racing icon Narain Karthikeyan has been appointed by MRF Tyres as its "Racing Brand Ambassador".

Karthikeyan is the only Indian to have raced in Formula One.

"It is an honour for me to represent MRF Tyres and join their efforts to take motor racing to the next level in India," the 35-year old Karthikeyan said on his new assignment.

Karthikeyan, who would reportedly get Rs eight crores for the four year period from MRF, will also have assistance by way of sponsorship for his team in competitions starting with the three-legged MRF Restricted International Challenge racing events spread over three Sundays from January 31.

Coimbatore-based Karthikeyan, faced with difficulties in raising the required finance to have remained in Formula-1, the pinnacle of world motorsport, has been presently involved in competing for AI India in lesser known Team championship.

He has developed his academy team NK Speed Racing Team during the last three years and his hand picked drivers including Aswin Sundar and Aditya Patel have been competing in JK Tyre National Road Racing Championship.

Though engineers and mechanics of the academy would continue to be part of his new renamed team, Karthikeyan was not sure about his drivers to be fielded for MRF International Formula 1600 cc class to be held in Irungattukottai from Jan 31 over three Sundays where besides Indians, drivers from Europe and Asia-Pacific are also likely to participate.

In accepting the MRF assignment, Karthikeyan had to take a tough call in breaking his 18-year old relationship with another tyre major, JK Tyre Industries.

JK Tyre had played a lead role in enabling Karthikeyan to race abroad by way of financial support and also promoting the driver to an iconic status that in turn attracted corporate sponsorship, notably from the Tata group.

JK Tyres had reportedly spent over Rs 15 crores during the 18 years culminating in Karthikeyan attaining an iconic status as the first and lone Indian as a F1 driver.

During his stay with the JK Tyres, Karthikeyan was reportedly receiving Rs 50 lakh per year for a major period.

Reacting to Karthikeyan's shift, Sanjay Sharma, Head of Motor Sport of JK Tyre said, "Narain is our prodigy who has done Indian motorsport proud. We are happy that he is getting support from other corporate also. We will continue to unearth, train and support motorsport talent in the country.

"We wish him all the best for all his future endeavours."

He also clarified that there was no bar on Ashwin Sundar or Aditya Patel shifting to MRF to pursue their future. Like in the case of Karthikeyan.

"We don't have any written agreements with these two though we have been helping them for a couple of years," Sharma said. .

Making good use of his association with a Consortium of sponsors, TATA, JK Tyre, BPCL, Amaron and Castrol, which had helped him find the money to participate in F1, Karthikeyan has brokered with the TATAs to agree to signing of an MoU with MRF for holding an domestic event for Indica Vista cars, according to sources in these companies.

This event christened "Vista Cup" ? a saloon car (petrol driven) event with FIAT engines is slated to be held this year on the same lines of globally acclaimed Polo Cup (diesel driven racing cars).

Polo Cup, whose launch in India was announced on October 15 last, will be held from June 19 this year in Chennai, according to Joerg Mueller, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India.

As for the Polo Cup, 20 firmly registered young Indian drivers aged 16 to 24 would compete in Volswagen cars with JK tyres used in the cup as well as setup work.

"For holding of the Vista Cup event, 30 TATA Indica Vista cars have already arrived here a week ago. The cars will be built by J.Anand of Coimbatore, who is also building the MRF Formula 1600cc series cars, to conform to the rules of the event," according to sources at the Kari Motor Speedway Track based in Coimbatore.