Force India ignores Karun Chandhok for young driver’s test

Force India, the Indian Formula One team, will test Britain’s Paul di Resta and America’s JR Hildebrand at the young drivers test at Jerez, Spain. The young driver’s test will be held between Decemeber 1-3, 2009. Force India has not confirmed either Adrian Sutil or Vitantonio Liuzzi who were driving their car in 2009.

Photo: Karun Chandhok

The announcement of di Riesta and Hildebrand for the young drivers’ test means that Indian Formula One aspirant Karun Chandhok will not get to drive a Force India Formula One car. Karun Chandhok was one among the many hopefeuls hoping for a Formula One car with the Indian Force India team. After team owner Vijay Mallya dismissed Narain Karthikeyan as a driver for the team, Indian hopes were pinned on Karun Chandok.

Chandhok said, “We talked about it and I expressed my ambitions to do something with Force India. But they opted to go with other drivers. That’s their decision but I’m not disappointed.”

The young driver’s test at Jerez is meant to give the young Formula One aspirants some driving mileage behind the wheels of a Formula One car. The FIA has banned in- season testing of Formula One cars. Only those drivers who have not had more than three F1 races are eligible to take part in the young driver’s test.

Paul di Resta, who is 23, competes for Merdeces in the German touring championship. Mercedes also happens to be Force India’s engine partner. di Riesta had tested for McLaren two times in the past.

JR Hildebrand, who is 21, is the Indy Lights series champion and is from California.

Vijay Mallya who owns the Force India F1 team said the team was happy to give di Riesta and Hildebrand a test with their Formula One car. “Their showing in the simulator was excellent and we had no hesitations in offering them some valuable testing. We will be looking at their performance on track very closely and should they perform well, as we are confident they will, we will look at a permanent role for one within the team in 2010, potentially as a test and reserve driver.”

Force India is yet to name their 2010 driver line up. According to reports, Adrian Sutil is expected to retain his seat with the team.