• Indian star to join Spanish F1 team
• No partner yet for former Jordan driver

The Formula One team, Hispania Racing, have confirmed the appointment of India’s Narain Karthikeyan as one of their two race drivers for the 2011 season.

Karthikeyan, who previously drove in F1 for the Jordan team in 2005, has also been a test driver for Williams, competed in A1GP, the World Cup of Motorsport, the Le Mans series including the Le Mans 24-hour race, and had stints in the Nascar truck series and Superleague Formula last year.

“I have always maintained that I have not given up on my desire to return to the pinnacle of world motor sport,” said Karthikeyan. “I am confident that I still have the pace, the fitness and the will to succeed in Formula One.”

In the Le Mans series, he drove for the Audi team then managed by the current Hispania team principal, Colin Kolles, who was also part of the Jordan team that hired Karthikeyan.

“I have known Narain for a long time and he can revert to the experiences he gained when he was competing for Jordan Grand Prix and being test and reserve driver for Williams F1,” Kolles said.

“I am sure that his experience and speed will be very useful for the team during the season.”

He is the second Indian hiring for Hispania following Karun Chandhok, who drove in the first 10 races of the 2010 season before being replaced by Japan’s Sakon Yamamoto.

Confirmation of Karthikeyan’s return leaves only three vacant F1 seats left unconfirmed for the coming season: the second drive at Hispania plus the two at Force India.

Force India were expected to retain Adrian Sutil for next season and Vitantonio Liuzzi is under contract but is a doubt to retain his position with the team.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk

• Japanese driver Yamamoto partner Bruno Senna for Hispania
• ‘Karun Chandhok is still part of the Hispania Racing’

The Indian Formula One driver Karun Chandhok has been dropped for next week’s German grand prix, his Hispania team said today.

“After Sakon Yamamoto gave a very positive performance in Silverstone, the team has decided to give the Japanese driver another opportunity to drive the car alongside Bruno Senna,” they said in a statement.

“Karun Chandhok is still part of the Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team family and is likely to be in the car at some later races this season.”

The 26-year-old Chandhok began his career in Formula One this season following three years in GP2. He started 10 races for Hispania, finishing in 14th place in Bahrain and Montreal.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk