Ralf Schumacher aspires promoting F1 in India

Varanasi, Mar 21 (UNI) German Formula One racer Ralf Schumacher today expressed his strong desire to promote motor-sports, particularly F1 in India.

The driver of Panasonic Toyota F1 team Ralf was in the holy city with liquor baron and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Mallya to visit the 'Go Ahead Children Home' being run by World Hope Award winner Stella Deetjen for impoverished kids.

The 31-year-old sportsperson, who is also the younger sibling of seven-time F1 champion Micheal Schumacher, in a brief chat with newspersons said ''India is a great country and I will certainly love to promote motor-sport especially F1 if given an opportunity.'' The younger of the Schumacher brothers, however, stayed clear of all queries pertaining to his present performance and future in the F1 fast lane.

Enthused over his maiden visit to Varanasi, Ralf who has managed only six wins under his belt during his nearly decade long F1 career noted that he had never been to such an exotic city.

The German F1 driver, however, was pained by the present state of the sacred Ganga river saying ''it pains to find Ganga in a sorrow state.'' Earlier, Ralf and Mr Mallya -- whose airliner Kingfisher Airlines is now sponsoring the Panasonic Toyota F1 team -- reached the city by a chartered flight and then embarked for a boat ride on Ganga from Dashwashamedh Ghat to Assi Ghat.

UNI