Karthikeyan likely for Minardi test role.

Indian racing driver Narain Karthikeyan is edging closer to the test seat at Minardi for the 2004 season after having missed out on a race seat with the Formula One tailenders.

The Indian, who raced this year for Carlin in the Nissan World Series, recently tested the Minardi PS03 at Vallelunga.

With race seats at the squad taken by Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, and with Karthikeyan not having any F1 race expereience, and therefore eligible to run on the Friday test under the FIA's new rules for 2004.

Paul Stoddart has always been ready to allow drivers with sufficient funding to test for his team, and Indian Narain has plenty of finance behind him, including Indian conglomorate, Tata.

"I don't really want to say anything," Narain told f1central.net "I don't like speculation because last time it did the rounds, it didn't necessarily help me, I am hoping for the best, but I will keep performing."

"It is a financially very sensitive issue at the moment, so speculations are best kept away. But now it all depends on the sponsorship," he said.

Kartikeyan performed well in the Nissan World Series, but it is believed that the massive Tata concern had promised the Indian the backing for a berth at Minardi had he managed to win a race in the series.

Karthikeyan has other backers, in the form of JK Tyres. "If there is an offer, it will have to be for a confirmed drive. The Minardi test speaks volumes of the talent of this man," the website reports JK Tyres head of sport as saying.

[Pic Credit: RPM/M Renzi]