Formula One News

Hispania has officially confirmed that Narain Karthikeyan has signed with the team as a race driver for the 2011 Formula One season.


Narain was a race driver for Jordan Grand Prix in 2005, and a test driver for Williams F1 in 2006 and 2007 ... From 2007 until 2009, he was the lead driver for A1 Team India in A1GP, The World Cup of Motorsport, where he won two races and achieved one pole position, becoming the first Indian ever to win a World Championship race ... In 2009, he raced for the Kolles Audi Team in the Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24-Hour race, again becoming the first ever Indian to race in that legendary event ... The car finished 7th overall ... In 2010 Narain raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the USA, also in the Superleague Formula in Europe, where he won a race at his favourite circuit, Brands Hatch in the UK ... His win there has extended his already unique record at that circuit, where he is the only driver to win a race in every series in which he has ever raced.

Other hand Karun Chandhok, who was a race driver for Hispania in half of 2010 season, is almost certain of not getting any race seat for 2011 season ... The most likely scenario is a test role with Tony Fernandes (Lotus Racing) ... So a year as understudy with the Malaysian outfit could see Chandhok return to the F1 grid in 2012.

Narain Karthikeyan - "It's been a while in the making, but I am extremely happy to be racing again in Formula 1 in 2011. I have always maintained that I have not given up on my desire to return to the pinnacle of world motorsport. I am confident that I still have the pace, the fitness and the will to succeed in Formula 1. I'm looking forward to racing for Hispania Racing, and to working again with Dr. Colin Kolles. We have a long standing and excellent working relationship together. I'm also looking forward to racing at the first ever Indian Grand."

Karun Chandhok - "There's no real race seat that we are chasing, we were not chasing the HRT seat at all. I've been speaking to a variety of people, but at the moment I am quite focused on getting something done for the medium to long term. If a third driver role leads to something better for 2012, then that's what I'd like to see."