New Campos team principal Colin Kolles has confirmed that the team are close to agreeing a deal with Indian driver Karun Chandhok to race for the team in the upcoming season, the German saying that the announcement could be made "in a few days".
Although Chandhok seemed to be an outsider for the seat after reports suggested that USF1 driver Jose Maria Lopez was nearing a switch to the team, recent reports suggested that Chandhok was now the favourite.
And Kolles confirmed today that the new, Jose Ramon Carabante-controlled Campos team was near a deal with the former GP2 driver. The rumour mill suggests that the driver may already have had a seat fitting.
"We have been very impressed with Karun's performance in GP2 and are close to finalising a deal with him," Kolles beamed earlier today, "India is a great country and it would be great for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid.
"However we will be in a better position to comment on this over the next few days. My aim now is to make sure that we are there on the grid in Bahrain which will be a huge achievement in itself.
"We are moving in the right direction and will do everything in our power to make sure we are running in Bahrain, with Karun in the car."
Chandhok himself said that he was hopeful the deal would be struck soon.
"We are in talks with Colin and hope to confirm a deal very soon," Chandhok muttered, "We have known Colin for a number of years and we are absolutely amazed by his determination and passion to get the car on the grid in Bahrain. We have utmost faith in him and are hopeful to confirm things in the next few days."
There is no end to the rumours that current Campos driver Bruno Senna is under threat from Lopez, with reports suggesting that the Brazilian has been asked to find additional sponsorship in order to keep his seat with the team.
Chandhok would become the second Indian driver in Formula One, after Narain Karthikeyan's unsuccessful year with Jordan in 2005.
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