The newly-rebadged HRT team have confirmed that Karun Chandhok will race for them this season. Chandhok, who has previously tested for Red Bull, will be the second Indian driver in the history of the world championship.
The announcement was made during an official presentation in the Spanish city of Murcia on Thursday. During the event the team also unveiled their car for the 2010 season.
Chennai-born Chandhok was crowned the Asian Formula Renault V6 champion, with seven wins and nine pole positions in 2006. Over the next three seasons, he competed in the GP2 series, winning two races. Last year, he finished 18th in the GP2 standings, after clinching third-place at the British event.
The 26 year-old will partner Brazilian Bruno Senna at the squad. Formula 1
The first was Narain Karthikeyan with Jordan in 2005. “I am very happy to see that Karun has finally secured his place on the Formula One grid,” the 79-year-old Ecclestone wrote in a statement.
“It’s been a bit last minute but the main thing is that he is there and with a team that should provide him stability and a chance to learn.
“While I believe it’s going to take Karun until mid-season to be able to show his potential, I wish him all the very best for this season and look forward to seeing the Indian media and public get behind him this year,” he added.
India is scheduled to host a grand prix in 2011 and Ecclestone said Chandhok’s arrival was the logical next step for the country. Times of India
Team principal Colin Kolles says he has been impressed with the two-time GP2 race winner’s performances in the feeder series over the past three years and believes it’s a good thing for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid ahead of the country’s inaugural grand prix in 2011.
“We also complete the driver’s team line up with the Indian Karun Chandhok at the wheel of the car for our first ever season.”
“We have been very impressed with Karun’s performance in GP2.”
“India is a great country.”
“It will be great for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid for the first Indian Grand Prix.” ITV
“It was a bit surreal at first but now, today, it’s slowly starting to sink in. To fully appreciate the feeling, I have to be in Bahrain for the opener,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s nice to have an F-1 car with my name on it, that’s very special.”
Karun is aware that all the hard work is just about to begin; that it’s going to be a very different world once the season opens with Friday’s practice in Bahrain on March 12.
“It’s quite a difficult weekend, I’m going with my eyes open, there are no illusions. The first four races will be extremely tough. We’ll have to check whether the car is reliable. There are so many things. We’ll be competitive by the time we come to Europe.”
“My aim is to make a solid reputation for myself. This is something which has been my dream all my life. And I just hope I’m in F-1 when we host it next year. To be an Indian driver in the first Indian GP will be terrific,” said Karun. The Hindu
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