Karun Chandhok eyes reserve driver role with Team Lotus
Indian driver Karun Chandhok is aiming to become the reserve driver for Team Lotus and continue his role in Formula 1.
Chandhok debuted in 2010 for Hispania Racing Team and it was not an ideal outing for him. The team did not win any points and their aim was just to finish the races.
Karun was dropped from the team during the 2010 season and a new driver line-up was announced for the 2011 season.
The Indian was invited as a guest to the Valencia testing by Team Lotus but the decision of hiring him as a reserve driver was not finalised by them as they were looking at other options before making the final move.
Chandhok expressed his eagerness of being a part of Formula 1 in 2011 and said, “At the moment I am still in discussions. Nothing is confirmed yet, and I have come here to see how the team works and to have a catch up with Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne.”
The team owner of Lotus, Tony Fernandes said, “We want a reserve driver who is going to be good for us, and Karun is definitely on the list. For me, I want it to be a team effort, and I want the team to feel comfortable.”
Fernandes further added that the decision will be taken in the best interest of the team and only that driver will be finalised who will gel easily into the team.
Tony praised Karun and said that he can add value to the team if he was a part of it and it would be nice if he gets to know some people in the team before any decision is taken on his role.
After a poor season with HRT, there was no chance for Karun to make it to any team for the 2011 season but another Indian, Narain Karthikeyan was named in their drivers’ list for 2011.
This was a surprise inclusion as no Indian driver was expected to represent the country in the inaugural Formula 1 race in India which will take place in October 2011.
The last time Karthikeyan represented his country in Formula 1 was back in 2005 when he raced for Jordan. He also became the only Indian in Formula 1 history to score points in a race during that season.
He will be looking forward to score more points in the 2011 season but it will all depend on whether HRT provide him with a competitive car or not.
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