SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

HRT confirms Karthikeyan return

Narain Karthikeyan will return to the HRT cockpit in Friday practice at Singapore, in preparation for a race return in the Indian GP at the end of October.

Narain Karthikeyan will return to the HRT cockpit in Friday practice at Singapore, in preparation for a race return in the Indian GP at the end of October.

The 34-year-old Karthikeyan made his F1 debut with Jordan in 2005 and returned to F1 with HRT at the beginning of this season after a five-year absence.

Karthikeyan stood down to make way for Red Bull prot©g© Daniel Ricciardo after the European GP at Valencia in June, but the intention was that he would always return for the inaugural Indian race in Dehli.

Kartikeyan will get back up to speed in Singapore, and said: "It will be challenging for me because the circuit is demanding physically and very bumpy and there is also the heat and humidity."

It is understood that Ricciardo will be the driver to make way for Karthikeyan in India, with Tonio Liuzzi continuing in the other car.

"It is great to have Narain back in the car as it will give hin critical seat time before India," said team principal Colin Kolles. He is the best driver to come out of the region."

With Team Lotus expected to give Karun Chandhok a second race in place of Jarno Trulli in India, there is the prospect of two home drivers competing. For three days at least the quest to be "The world's fastest Indian" will not be the story of an ageing Kiwi, starring Anthony Hopkins!