Champion Siddarth aims for WTCC
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Siddarth Kishore’s motorsport career is at a crossroads. Just a week after being crowned the national champion in the saloon car category, Siddarth is worried about his future in the sport.
The 30-year-old says he’s unsure about defending his title next year. “It’s no secret that money plays a big role in motorsport. I had a tough time managing funds for the recently concluded season. My friends and well-wishers put together a consortium to help pursue my dream. I don’t know whether I will make it to the grid next year,” said Siddarth, who has a diploma in Automobile Engineering.
He also learnt cinematography and worked as an assistant cameraman in a Tamil movie. Siddarth’s foray into the motorsport came late at the age of 18, but born in the family of racers his entry was only natural. Siddarth’s father Subash Chandra Bose had a big fan following during the Sholavaram days. Known as ‘Bullet Bose’, Subash dominated the national bike racing championship in the ‘70s with 14 consecutive titles.
Siddarth said his dad was his biggest inspiration. “Coming from motorsport background, people always expect a lot from me. So, it’s really challenging,” he added.
Like his father, Siddarth also started with bikes. But he had to shift his focus on cars because of his weight. “I won eight races in my Bullet at the 2007 championship. But I couldn’t continue biking. Then, I tested single-seaters as well as Saloon cars. I felt more comfortable in the Saloons. It’s so much fun than Formula cars,” he said.
A thrilling finale saw Siddarth edging out Vizag youngster Sailesh Bolisetti, who dominated the first half of the championship with a string of victories. “Until I rolled my car back into the pit-lane, I had no idea about my victory. Sailesh had to finish fourth to clinch it, but he finished only fifth. I owe a lot to my mechanics who gave me a fabulous machine. I also want to thank former bike champion Raju and my boss Selvakumar Balu who have been a pillar of support throughout the season,” he said.
Siddarth’s ultimate aim is to drive in the World Touring Car Championship. “I would be a happy if I get to do at least a single race in the WTCC. Age is just a number in touring cars. Most of the drivers in series such as Nascar, Le Mans and WTCC are veterans,” he concluded.
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