Karun Chandhok Replaces Jarno Trulli For F1 German GP

Chandhok happy with Team Lotus race debut

A surprise announcement by Team Lotus today: Indian test and reserve driver Karun Chandhok will replace Jarno Trulli this weekend for the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. The Italian driver has recently been struggling with the Lotus, and hinted a power steering system which will be available for the Hungarian Grand Prix, would solve his problems.

Karun Chanhok replaces Jarno Trulli for the German GP

Photo by: xpb.cc

Not a problem for Chandhok, who will make his Team Lotus race debut this weekend. Chandhok was of course extremely happy with the chance the Malaysian team has offered him. “Firstly I want to thank Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin for giving me the chance to race this weekend for Team Lotus. Ever since I first joined the team I have been looking forward to this opportunity and I am determined to do my best to repay their faith in me and help the team progress, this season and for many years to come.”

Chandhok made his Grand Prix debut last year for the today still struggling Spanish HRT team, but was ousted in favor of Japanese driver Sakon Yamamoto. At the start of this season he joined Team Lotus led by Malaysian team owner Tony Fernandes, who was impressed by Chandhok, “Ever since I first met Karun I have been impressed with his whole demeanour - he is talented, passionate, committed and he brings great energy to the whole team so I am delighted that we are giving him the chance to add even more value to us in the cockpit over a whole race weekend.”

And added, “As a young Asian driver Karun faces even more obstacles to achieving his goals than his counterparts from the established motorsport homelands in the West, both from inside and outside F1, and I am very proud to be able to give him this chance on merit.”

Jarno Trulli, Lotus F1 Team and Tony Fernandes, Lotus F1 Team, Team Principal

Photo by: xpb.cc

Asked about his expectations Chandhok replied: “I will be doing my best to push and to make sure I learn as much as possible all weekend, take each session as it comes and work as closely as I can with the engineers and the whole team to do the best job I can.”

“Whatever happens, I am very excited about lining up on the grid on Sunday and I know there will be millions of Indian fans, and Team Lotus fans around the world, who will be behind me and the whole team, so I will do the best I can to give them something to cheer for.”

Fernandes thanked Trulli for his cooperation, “I also want to take this chance to thank Jarno for helping make Karun's opportunity this weekend possible. He has been extremely accommodating in stepping to the side for this race and our commitment to him is unwavering.”

Trulli will stay and will drive for Team Lotus in 2012

Meanwhile there have been rumors Trulli would leave the team, but Fernandes denied it. “I am delighted to confirm that we are in the process of negotiating an extension to his contract with us and we are all looking forward to unveiling the details of that very soon.”

According to Fernandes Trulli is a valuable asset for Team Lotus, “He is a key member of our team and I hope that we can give him a car as soon as possible that allows him to utilise his considerable talents to the full. For this weekend he will be on hand to lend his huge experience and support to Karun and I am sure Jarno, Heikki and Karun will do me, the whole team and all our fans very proud indeed.”

In a statement issued by Team Lotus this morning Trulli commented, “I'm looking forward to working with Karun this weekend and doing whatever I can to help him get the most out of his opportunity in Germany. It's great that the team is true to its word of helping develop young talent, particularly from parts of the world where it is even harder to break through into the top rung of motorsport, so I'll be there to give him guidance and assistance, in and out of the car.”