After warming the bench for the first nine races of the season, Karun Chandhok will be back in a racing car at this weekend’s German Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old Indian will replace Italy’s Jarno Trulli, a veteran of 247 races, at Nuerburgring. Though Chandhok will be on duty in Germany, Trulli, who is 10 years his senior, will be back in the driver’s seat for the next race in Hungary.
For now, Chandhok wants to make the most of this opportunity. “At this moment, it’s just for the weekend with Jarno back in Hungary. For me, it’s just a question of establishing myself in the team and try to build a foundation for future.
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to fight the middle-rung teams but it is still a good opportunity for me to race against the best drivers in the world,” Chandhok told DNA from the Nuerburgring in Nurburg on Thursday.
Chandhok made his Formula One debut last year with Hispania, but was booted out after 10 races into the season. He signed on as a reserve driver for Team Lotus at the start of this season. Chandhok said he’d been discussing about getting an opportunity to race and the team thought this weekend was the right time.
“We’d been talking about it throughout the season. I don’t know when Tony Fernandes (team principal) made his decision but I came to know a few days ago,” Chandhok said.
The Chennai lad, who drove during the Friday free practice at the Australian, Turkish, European and British Grands Prix, feels it will be a challenge as he has neither driven Pirelli tyres in dry conditions nor has he used the Drag Reduction System (DRS). After all, most races this year were hit by rain.
“There is lot to learn this weekend. The team has been realistic. They don’t expect me to get out their and beat Hekki (Kovalainen) as I’ve hardly had any practice under my belt. But they do expect me to improve over the weekend and see how committed I’m to the team’s programme,” Chandhok said.
Fernandes, on his part, rates Chandhok highly. “Ever since I met Karun, I have been impressed with his whole demeanour. He is talented, passionate, committed and he brings great energy to the whole team. I am delighted that we are giving him the chance,” the team principal said in a statement.
“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... and I am proud to be able to give him this chance on merit,” he added.
Chandhok hopes to put on a creditable performance to impress Lotus head honchos. After all, he must be desperate to earn a berth for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in New Delhi on October 30.
Meanwhile, Hispania Racing’s Narain Karthikeyan will drive during Friday morning’s free practice session from the German GP.
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