Alex Zanardi: Thriving on risks!

He is our own Alex Zanardi. (The racer who made a comeback despite the amputation of his legs) Born with dislocated feet, he has been living with prosthetic limbs all his life. When he applied for his racing licence, the doctors who had to clear him wondered if he would cause harm to others on the track because of his condition. But nothing deterred Chetan Korada, who has had 16 podium finishes in the 2010 Formula Maruti category.The only time that Chetan remembers his prosthetic attachments are when he has to upgrade them every two years due to bone growth. Chetan’s condition has only made him passionate about challenges. “I’ve had this crazy thing ever since I was a kid. If something challenged me or was risky, I'd love it. Especially things that involved a lot of physical work,” he says with an unmistakable glint in his eyes. “I do a lot of paragliding, ride water scooters and go on treks. Of course, I love riding my bike!” Chetan, who was in the limelight recently during the fourth round of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship, is a true man of grit. The 25-year-old started twelfth on the grid, but ended up finishing first in round four, despite the fact that most other racers had much more experienced than he had. “I started off on a bumpy weekend, but managed to learn a lot of things from my mistakes to come out tops,” he explains. And that’s another thing that Chetan likes to get into philosophy mode. “It is not just about achieving things for myself. I want to set an example for four other people,” says Chetan, who has also been trying to motivate young drivers who are interested in participating in professional races. However ironic, Chetan strongly supports the cause of anti-rash driving. “When I figured out that I have the tracks to drive fast, I didn’t want to risk another person’s life on the roads. I advice as many people as I can to drive carefully and slowly,” he says. Chetan, who believes that the recent F1 races in India have opened up various new avenues of opportunity for racers, also believes in keeping himself fit. He works out for an hour everyday in the gym in his house. He doesn't forget to give his parents due credit. “They have always supported me in everything, even the crazy things. Only because they made sure that I played sports in my younger days am I am able to cope in the racing field now,” he says. Back to philosophy mode. “I am just like the other racers on the track. Just like them, I break where they do and accelerate where they do. My only aim is to win.”