Former HRT driver, Karun Chandhok has been keeping his driving skills sharp by taking part in a Formula 3 test.
After failing to secure a race seat in F1 for 2011, the popular Indian driver kept himself active by driving for the Double R Racing Dallara-Mercedes team on the Pembrey circuit in Wales.
The F3 test is part of Chandhok's plan to accumulate more experience across a range of open-wheel cars and increase his potential worth to Formula 1 teams in the future. A successful test compounded his efforts, completing a healthy 140 laps without major interruption.
“It’s no secret I’ve been edging towards a test contract in F1 over the past few weeks and after the winter break I felt it was important to do some miles in a competitive race car before getting back in a Formula 1 car,” he said.
“My good friend Anthony Hieatt at Double R Racing kindly offered to wheel one of his F3 cars out for me at Pembrey and I have to say I’ve come away enormously impressed with the current generation of F3 cars.”
“I last raced in the British Championship in 2004 and it’s mighty impressive what Dallara and the teams have done to add so much downforce to the cars. It’s really no surprise that drivers are able to get out of these and be quick in GP2 or F1 straight away. 'Boyo' ran me at my first F3 test at Pembrey at the end of 2001 and it was a fun day down memory lane today.”
Chandhok is still waiting on a verdict from Team Lotus as to whether he will become the team's test and reserve driver for the upcoming season, but currently stands in good stead to take the position.
