Jan. 6: Narain Karthikeyan’s agonising wait is over. After five years, the ace Indian driver is back on the Formula One grid for the 2011 season as the 33-year-old has signed a contract with the Hispania Racing Team. Incidentally, another Indian Karun Chandhok was sidelined by the same Spanish outfit last year and the team boss Colin Kolles later said “Having a rookie didn’t help his team in 2010.”
Having signed the 33-year-old Narain, Kolles says the Indian’s experience and speed will be useful for the team. “It is a great pleasure for us to have signed Narain. I have known him for a long time and he can revert to the experiences gained when he was competing for Jordan and being test and reserve driver for Williams,” said the German, who was the team principal of Jordan when Narain made his debut with them.
An elated Narain said he was looking forward to fulfilling his dream of driving at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. “I have worked really hard to return to Formula 1 and it will be a dream come true to race in the first ever F1 race in India. I am delighted.
“I have always maintained that I have not given up on my desire to return to the top level of motor sport. I am confident that I have the pace, the fitness and the will to succeed. I am extremely grateful to the Tata Group, without whose unwavering support, this comeback would not have been possible,” he added.
Narain will do a pre-season test in Valencia in February. Though the HRT finished at the back of the grid last season, they are expecting a change of fortune this time around with new gearbox deals Williams.