Karthikeyan to drive for HRT during the 2012 F1

Narain Karthikeyan will race for the second time with HRT for the 2012 season of F1. Karthikeyan, 35, will partner 40-year-old Pedro de la Rosa to form the oldest line-up on F1 grid this year. This will be HRT’s third formula 1 season. Karthikeyan started the 2011 season as a racing driver for the team, but was dropped after the European Grand Prix, in favour of Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo. [caption id=“attachment_202571” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“HRT F1 Team’s Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan (C) stands after crashing at Istanbul Park on May 6, 2011 in Istanbul.AFP”]  [/caption] “It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen but I am absolutely elated to feature on the 2012 grid with HRT F1 team. I was pleased with our strong performance at the Indian Grand Prix, in front of my passionate home fans and I look forward to building on this result in 2012,” Karthikeyan was quoted by Autosport. “I am pleased to count with Narain for this season, as he will contribute continuity and stability. Of the eight Grands Prix he contested in 2011, he only failed to finish on one occasion and had a great performance in the last race he took part in. “I’m sure that the fact that he will continue to work and drive on a regular basis will help him take a step forward this season. And if he advances, so does the team. This is a year in which you could say that the team starts from scratch and everyone’s input will be fundamental,” HRT team boss Luiz Perez-Sala added.