Karun Chandhok is set for an evaluation test with the Team Lotus squad at next week's Jerez test session, with the team close to agreeing a deal to sign the Indian as a test and reserve driver for the 2011 season.
Chandhok was present at last week's test in Valencia in the Team Lotus pit, and was photographed wandering around the paddock in Lotus-emblazoned clothing.And the team are now set to give Chandhok a run in their new T128 car, both at the Jerez test, and at the following test in Barcelona.
The team will then make their final decision on whether or not to offer Chandhok a reserve role behind race drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli.
"We would like him to be reserve driver but we've got to see whether it all works out, that's the plan," Lotus team boss Tony Fernandes told the Reuters news agency.
He added: "He is going to get a couple of slots in the testing now in Jerez and Barcelona. And then we'll decide after that.
"Mike [Gascoyne] and Riad [Asmat] and everyone else feel he's the right guy to add value to the team."
Fernandes had earlier explained that the team was considering the Indian driver for the reserve role.
"We want a reserve driver who is going to be good for us, and Karun is definitely on the list," Fernandes smiled, "For me, I want it to be a team effort, and I want the team to feel comfortable."
The exact days that Chandhok will drive the car have not yet been decided.
Chandhok was remaining coy about his chances of securing a drive with the team at last week's test.
"At the moment I am still in discussions," he was quoted as saying by Autosport, "Nothing is confirmed yet, and I have come here to see how the team works and to have a catch up with Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne.
"Of course it would be nice to have a continued role in F1, but there is nothing finalised yet."
The team has been without a test driver since Fairuz Fauzy departed at the end of 2010. The Malaysian driver has since been signed by the new Group Lotus-affiliated Renault team.
Chandhok himself drove for the Hispania Racing team at the start of the 2010 season, but was dropped from a race seat after the British Grand Prix due to sponsorship issues.
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