Nurburgring: Team Lotus on Friday made a surprise announcement replacing veteran driver Jarno Trulli with reserve driver Karun Chandhok of India for this weekend’s German Grand Prix.
The Indian, who was sharing the Friday testing duties for Team Lotus, confirmed the “good news” and is looking ahead to have a productive run at the famed Nurburgring.
Lotus said the decision was taken in order to give the Indian a chance to prove himself and gain more F1 racing experience.
“One of the key goals of Team Lotus is to provide a stepladder to the top of world motorsport for talent from all over the world and we have been true to that philosophy since the first days of the team. For F1 to continue to develop globally we need to keep creating new opportunities for talent from around the world to reach the top and Team Lotus will continue to do its best to support that,” said Tony Fernandes, the Team Principal.
“As a young Asian driver Karun faces even more obstacles to achieving his goals than his counterparts from the established motorsport homelands in the West, both from inside and outside F1, and I am very proud to be able to give him this chance on merit,” he added.
Fernandes also thanked Trulli for making way for Chandhok to compete in the German GP.
Delighted at the opportunity provided to him, Chandhok said he would be looking to approach the weekend in a realistic frame of mind and give his best.
“Ever since I first joined the team I have been looking forward to this opportunity and I am determined to do my best to repay their (the team’s) faith in me and help the team progress, this season and for many years to come.
“I am approaching the weekend in a very realistic frame of mind.”
For the 27-year-old from Chennai, the Nurburgring outing will be his 11th Formula One race and first since British Grand Prix in 2010 before he was dropped by the Hispania team in favour of Japanese Sakon Yamamoto.
“I am excited about lining up on on Sunday and I know there will be millions of Indian fans, and Team Lotus fans, who will be behind me and the team, so I will do the best I can to give them something to cheer for,” Chandhok said. (PTI)