Gowda, Nalwalla to compete in F4 SEA for 2016 season

The 2015 Junior National Karting Champion Gowda will make his international debut while Nalwalla is making his single-seater debut racing in the F4 championship.

Gowda competed in JK Tyre’s Formula BMW in 2015 and for this year, he will compete in both Formula BMW and F4 SEA along with continuing his karting programme so as to have as much seat time as possible.

“I feel it would be better for me to dovetail Formula BMW as well as the F4 SEA series to be at par for the next season,” said Gowda to Motorsport.com exclusively.

“We started talking about F4 as soon as the National Karting Championship was over and everything was finalised by April.

“We have planned for a two season program and then move on ahead,” he revealed and added plans could change.

Both Gowda and Nalwalla are guided by Akbar Ebrahim and his son Armaan, who was recently announced as Lamborghini’s academy driver.

Sepang test enriching

With the season slated to start in August, the two drivers took part in the pre-season test with Armaan overlooking their progress.

“The testing went really well, I was able to adapt to the car really fast. At first I was way off pace but then gradually improved and by the end of the first test day I was with the top 5 drivers,” said Gowda.

“The second day we worked on the aero and downforce through the corners and I ended up with the top 3 drivers.”

Whereas Nalwalla spent his time learning the single-seater car functions in his first ever run in formula cars.

“Considering it was my first attempt in a formula car and first time at the Sepang circuit it was a very enriching experience.

“I realized my strengths and weaknesses and it was great learning stint. In sports you have to make some bold moves but I think it was worth it,” said Nalwalla when asked if jumping from kart to F4 too early.

Credit Armaan for all the guidance

Having had raced around the world, Armaan has rich experience with him which both Gowda and Nalwalla alluded to.

“Armaan's support has got me to where I am right now, we have been working together since three years in preparation for the future both mentally as well as physically.

“He's my driver coach for the F4 and it’s helped me alot with so much of experience he has,” he added.

“The testing session would have been incomplete without Armaans expertise. Not only is he a great driver coach but an amazing person who makes you extremely comfortable,” said Nalwalla.

When asked about their aim in the first season, Gowda said: “I am aiming to progress throughout the championship and finish in the top 5 in the standings.”

Whereas Nalwalla added: “I would be trying my best to come as high as possible on the grid with the competition around.”

Both the young Indians target a Europe move in the future, after having competed and progressed through the Asian championship.