F1 Update from the iSport F1 Pitstop: Narain Karthikeyan has announced his return to Formula One after a five-year break. The 33-year old Coimbatore-based racer has signed up with Hispania Racing team for the 2011 F1 season.
Karthikeyan, who became the first driver to debut in Formula One, had his last stint as a F1 race driver with Jordan before joining Williams F1 in 2006 and 2007 as a test driver.
The 33-year old was excited with his return to Formula One and also with the fact that he will get a chance to race in front of the home crowd.
"I have worked really hard to come back to F1 and it will be a dream come true to race in the first ever Indian Grand Prix in front of my fellow-Indians. I hope that they will spur me on with their blessings and good wishes," he said in a statement. (Narain drove in the NASCAR Truck Series where he won the most popular driver award: read iSport article)
"It has been a while in the making, but I am delighted to be racing again in Formula 1 in 2011. 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 in Formula 1," he added.
He also thanked the Tata Group, who played key role in ensuring his return to the F1 circuit.
"I am extremely grateful to the Tata Group, without whose unwavering support, this comeback would not have been possible. I am looking forward to racing for HRT, and to working again with Dr. Colin Kolles. We have a long standing and excellent working relationship together," he said in the statement.
The Hispania Racing team was delighted after signing up the 33-year old Karthikeyan and one of the motives behind the signing was to improve upon their disappointing last season performance, a season which saw them finish without a single point.
Hispania Racing team principal Kolles said: "It is a great pleasure for us to have signed Narain Karthikeyan as our race driver for the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship. I have known Narain for a long time and he can revert to the experiences he gained when he was competing for Jordan Grand Prix and being test and reserve driver for Williams F1.
(Read Narain Karthikeyan's interview on iSport - where he talks about his season in the NASCAR)
"Narain has also been driving in other racing series and running in one of the legendary Audi sports cars in the Le Mans Series. I am sure that his experience and speed will be very useful for the team during the season. We are welcoming Narain to our team and we look forward to working closely with him this year," he added.
Read Kunal Shah's views on Narain's F1 comeback with HRT
Read F1 News and Analysis on iSport
Catch the 2011 Formula1 Calendar on iSport
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