Karthikeyan hopes to drive in F1 races next season

Chennai, Jun 26 (UNI) Forced to pursue his formula one dream as a test driver for Williams, Narain Karthikeyan is optimistic about burning the rubber again in F1 races next season.

Talking to reporters at the launch of the Amaron-NK Racing Academy here today, Karthikeyan said his role as a test driver with the Williams team would finetune him into a better driver.

''At present I am enjoying the role in the Williams team. It will make me a better driver. My aim is to get back into the Formula one racing next season. It all depends on the top order (of the Williams team). I am optimistic,'' he said, adding, ''We will see how this season progresses.' Karthikeyan started his first F1 year with Jordan, later christened Midland, but was thrown out the next season before joining Williams as their test driver.

Stating that his present role in the Williams' team was significant, the brand ambassador of Amaron batteries said, ''We concentrate on test driving with whatever innovations are made by the research team. In the last season, the team tested nearly 135 parts of the racing car.'' Away from motorsports, Karthikeyan rued he could not catch up with the soccer World Cup owing to his busy schedule.

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