Chennai, February 23 – Renowned director Venkat Prabhu, who directed Ajith Kumar in the film 'Mankatha' and recently visited the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi, where he witnessed Ajith Kumar racing with his team, Ajith Kumar Racing, has now released a video detailing his experience of watching the actor participate in a high-speed race up close.
In a video clip that is going viral on social media, Venkat Prabhu said, "I wanted to share something I saw with you all. I recently watched a race at the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi. Ajith sir participated in that race along with his team."
The director then continued, "Basically, I have watched a lot of races. I have even watched F1 in Singapore. I watched it from a distance."
However, the director pointed out that it was only recently that he had watched a race in which someone he knew was participating. "When we watch a race in which someone we know is participating, the excitement is much greater, and along with it, you also experience more fear," Venkat Prabhu disclosed.
"I was able to see how the team behind this works. When the vehicle stops for a tyre change, they check the gas and other aspects. They do it in 15 to 17 seconds. In F1, the tyres are changed. But in this race, the drivers too change. The time taken for one driver to come out and another driver to take his place is astounding. It's not like our normal car, where one can come out of a door. It has to be through a window. I was amazed to see Ajith sir do all that," he explained.
"Even being seated inside such a car can cause shortness of breath. I am very claustrophobic," Venkat Prabhu confessed and said, "I was completely amazed to see him (Ajith) pursue his passion. It's an amazing thing."
"Cinema itself is difficult. But here, there are no retakes. It's either life or death. Everyone is driving at around 220 or 260 kms per hour. Everyone's prayers are that the drivers should come out safely. I witnessed a crash with my own eyes. Luckily, nobody got hurt. But it was a terrible crash. At that time, I watched Ajith sir's team's reaction. They were shocked. Although they were competing, they were concerned for the safety of all the drivers," the director appreciated, while emphasizing how risky the sport is.
Praising Ajith for popularizing the sport in the country, Venkat Prabhu said, "Ajith sir himself said, 'It's an amazing sport. Somehow, we must create awareness in our country.' I told him that interest in the sport in the country was increasing after he took up racing. Watching him race was a mind-blowing experience."
The director also explained how the team conducted a post-race analysis after almost half a day. "Only after half a day, they talk about what went wrong. They sit with the drivers and discuss and analyse," he said.
Stating that he participated in a pit walk with Ajith, the director said that he met all the drivers of Ajith Kumar's team, including ace driver Narain Karthikeyan. "It was a wonderful experience," said Venkat Prabhu as he summed up the experience.
