Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a contender to race with the Force India team in 2011.<\/p>\n
Before Karun Chandhok made his debut in 2010, 33-year-old Karthikeyan was India’s first grand prix driver, contesting the full 2005 season with Jordan.<\/p>\n
The Silverstone based team has since been re-branded as Midland, Spyker and is now Force India, headed by the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.<\/p>\n
Force India’s current driver lineup is reportedly not secure for 2011, with Adrian Sutil eyeing a move to a bigger team, Vitantonio Liuzzi struggling to keep up with his German teammate, and reserve driver Paul di Resta thought likely to move into a race cockpit.<\/p>\n
And the latest rumours from Italy, including a report in Autosprint magazine, is that Karthikeyan is a possibility for 2011.<\/p>\n
It is suggested his sponsors have up to $8 million in total to spend on the seat, including Mumbai-based Tata Motors who are thought keen to associate with next year’s inaugural Indian grand prix.<\/p>\n
On his visit this week to the Delhi site of next year’s race, Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped there would be an Indian driver on the grid.<\/p>\n
“If an Indian driver is in Vijay’s team or a good team it will be superb,” he said.<\/p>\n
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