Karthikeyan pushing for race seat before India return

Narain Karthikeyan is "trying" to secure a seat for one of the three races leading up to next month's Indian Grand Prix.

Narain Karthikeyan, Hispania Racing F1 Team

Photo by: xpb.cc

The Indian is still an official driver of the Spanish team HRT, but he was replaced in the racing role mid-season by Red Bull-sponsored Daniel Ricciardo.

Karthikeyan, however, will be back in the car in his native India thanks to a new long term sponsorship with the Hero automotive group, which is controlled by the Indian billionaire Munjal family.

And he told the Indo-Asian News Service: "I am trying hard to get myself a race before Delhi. It will be a good warm-up for me heading into the home race."

HRT's driver lineup has already been announced for Monza, but before the inaugural race at the new Buddh circuit F1 will travel to Singapore, Japan and Korea.

As well as his new deal with Hero, 34-year-old Karthikeyan is also still sponsored by Tata, India's largest multinational.

"I want to drive in F1 as long as possible," he is quoted as saying by Reuters. "How and when, that will come up in due course."