05/01/2006
NEWS STORY
WilliamsF1 boss, Frank Williams, has said that his team might still offer Indian driver, Narain Karthikeyan, an F1 lifeline, despite signing former McLaren test driver, Alex Wurz, as its test and reserve driver for 2006.
According to Reuters, Williams said: "Alex's appointment as Williams's official test and reserve driver does not necessarily mean that the team has no additional role for Narain.
"The team and Narain are still in dialogue and the possibility of a second testing role for him still exists."
Karthikeyan twice tested for the Grove outfit at the end of last season, and there was wide speculation that the team might be tempted by the 28-year-old, and his financial backers. With the loss of BMW, and sponsor HP, there had been speculation that the team would opt for the 'security' of a pay test driver, but all that went out the window with the shock announcement of Wurz' recruitment.
With virtually all the other race and test seats spoken for, Karthikeyan's options are limited, therefore Williams' words will be welcomed by the Indian and his many fans.