Chandhok Tests GP2 Car, Still Aims for 2011 F1 Seat

Indian driver Karun Chandhok has recently tested a GP2 car in Abu Dhabi, yet his mind continues to be set on Formula One. And rightfully so, since driving an F1 car once can make a driver forget all about past experiences and focus on maintaining that feel for the years to come. Although he only completed half of season in 2010 for Hispania Racing F1 Team, Chandhok is hopeful he can land a seat in the 2011 campaign.

Benefiting from the constant lobbying of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone – the Englishman really wants an Indian driver on the grid for the 2011 Indian Grand Prix – as well as initial sponsorship backing, Chandhok managed to secure a seat with HRT F1 in early 2010. Due to his sponsors running out of cash, he was relegated to reserve driver by the Spanish squad, a role which he picked up and retained for the second half of last season.

Now linked with potential race seats with Force India Mercedes and Lotus F1 Racing – truth be told, there are close to non-existent chances of joining either of those two teams for a driving role in 2011 – Chandhok hopes to straighten his situation by Christmas.

“My goal for next year as I've said before is still firmly to be in Formula One and negotiations for a drive in the 2011 F1 World Championship are progressing in the right way. So hopefully we'll have a final programme in place before the F1 world shuts for Christmas,” said Chandhok.

As for testing a GP2 car with ORT and Coloni squads over the weekend, the Indian racer insisted that he did the test with the thought of F1 stuck in the back of his mind.

“For me, it's a good way to learn another new Formula One circuit ahead of the 2011 championship and a chance to further knock off the rust,” said Chandhok, whose last appearance in an F1 race was at Silverstone, in the British Grand Prix.