Narain Karthikeyan announced his Formula One comeback on Thursday after signing a deal to drive for Hispania Racing in 2011.
Indian to drive for HRT in 2011
Narain Karthikeyan announced his Formula One comeback on Thursday after signing a deal to drive for Hispania Racing in 2011.
The 33-year-old Indian became his country's first F1 driver back in 2005 when he raced for the Midland team, who were formerly known as Jordan and now Force India.
Karthikeyan's re-emergence in F1 also comes in the same year his country is due to stage its first grand prix.
"I've been through a lot in my career but to be a part of the first-ever Indian Grand Prix will a special moment for me," Karthikeyan told the
Hindustan Times newspaper.
"I've always seen cricketers playing in front of home fans and how pumped up the support gets them. To experience over 100,000 fans cheering for me will be a surreal experience.
"It will also be a great moment for Indian fans who will have a home driver and home team (Force India) to cheer for.
"The chance to race in the Indian Grand Prix will be great moment and is alone worth a return to F1. The closest I've come to experiencing home support was in the A1 series' race in Durban, where there is a large Indian diaspora."
The inaugural Indian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi on October 30.
Besides representing his country in the now defunct A1GP series, Karthikeyan has been a test driver for Williams, competed in the Le Mans series and the Le Mans 24-hour race, and also raced in the NASCAR truck series and the Superleague Formula.
Hispania team principal Colin Kolles, who was team principal at Midland when Karthikeyan raced for them, told the Hindu newspaper it was a "great pleasure" to have him on board.
"I have known Narain for a long time and he can revert to the experiences he gained when he was competing for Jordan Grand Prix and as reserve driver for Williams," Kolles added
"I am sure that his experience and speed will be very useful for the team during the season."
No seat for Senna
Hispania have yet to confirm Karthikeyan's team-mate although Kolles did rule Bruno Senna out of contention on Friday.
The Brazilian, nephew of the late three-times world champion Ayrton Senna, raced for the team last season.
"I can definitely say that Mr Bruno Senna is not going to race for HRT. 100 percent not," Kolles added.
The team finished 11th out of 12 in their inaugural year in 2010 racing with Senna, another Indian, Karun Chandhok, Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien.
Although Spanish-owned, HRT's new car is being put together in Kolles' home town of Greding in Bavaria.
Former BAR technical director Geoff Willis is in charge of the design and Kolles hoped the new car would be ready in time for at least some of next month's pre-season tests.
"We will be at the first test in Valencia (on February 1) with the old car," he added. "Maybe we will have the new one for the last two tests.
"We are now in the process of building the new car. The monococques are about ready, the gearbox and engine and hydraulics are there and the aero package is being released."
