Klien, Sutil likely for Force India

CHENNAI: Christian Klien and Adrian Sutil are the front-runners for the two race seats in Vijay Mallya owned Force India team for the 2008 Formula One series.

Mallya is scheduled to announce the driver line-up at the FIA prize distribution function at Monaco Dec 5.

The likes of Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher and Vitantonio Liuzzi are also in the fray while Sutil's name is linked as a replacement for Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

However, sources close to Mallya believe that the billionaire brewer might opt for Klien and Sutil, who is hailed as a future star.

In fact, Klien, who was the quickest of the four drivers who tested for Force India in Barcelona last week, is invited to Jerez where the final test session of the year is scheduled for next month.

Sutil, the 24-year old German, made his F1 debut this year with Spyker with whom he had signed a two-year contract. His best was an eighth place finish in the rain-marred Japanese Grand Prix.

Klien, 24, from Austria, drove for Jaguar in his first F1 season in 2004 and Red Bull in the next two seasons before replaced by Mark Webber for 2007. He signed up as a test driver for Honda and then Spyker where he was thought to be a replacement for Christian Albers. However, Sakon Yamamoto beat him to the race seat.

Mallya is also expected announce the team's business plans at the forum that will be attended by who's who of motor racing.