Chandhok will be a test driver with Red Bull for 2 days

Indian Karun Chandhok will do two days of testing with the Red Bull F1 team in Barcelona next week, the driver said in a statement on Tuesday.

Chandhok, who won his first GP2 series victory at Spa in Belgium earlier this year, wants to follow in the footsteps of Narain Karthikeyan, who became the first Indian to drive a Formula 1 car in 2005. He is currently a test driver at Williams.

« It’s really a dream for me, » said Chandhok in Chennai, his hometown.

Since I was four years old, I’ve dreamed of being behind the wheel of an F1 car, and it’s a highly anticipated day not only for myself but also for my family and for everyone who has supported me over the years.

« I thank all the participants at Red Bull Racing who will help make one of my dreams come true. I am eagerly anticipating this moment, » he continued.

Red Bull Racing’s boss Christian Horner said in a statement that Chandhok has shown significant signs of progress in recent months.

« Karun has been supported by Red Bull for a few years now and his progress in GP2 this year has been evident, resulting in a victory at Spa, » said Horner.

Barcelona presents a good opportunity to put Karoun in the thick of the action, in one of our cars, as our test driver Sébastien Buemi will be at the F3 race in Macau, he added.

India is showing great interest in becoming a key player in the world of F1 with businessman Vijay Mallya having purchased Spyker, which has been renamed Force India, a team with Indian inspiration.

India will also have its Grand Prix in 2010.