Team Lotus test driver Karun Chandhok will race for the team in place of Jarno Trulli at this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in a one-off return to a race seat, the team confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
Chandhok has taken part in four practice cameos for the team so far in 2011, after joining the Malaysilotus operation at the start of the season from Hispania Racing.
And the team confirmed that Chandhok would make a one-off return to the cockpit for the German race.
"Firstly I want to thank Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin for giving me the chance to race this weekend for Team Lotus," CHandhok beamed after the announcement.
"Ever since I first joined the team I have been looking forward to this opportunity and I am determined to do my best to repay their faith in me and help the team progress, this season and for many years to come.
"I am approaching the weekend in a very realistic frame of mind."
He added: "I will be doing my best to push and to make sure I learn as much as possible all weekend, take each session as it comes and work as closely as I can with the engineers and the whole team to do the best job I can.
"Whatever happens, I am very excited about lining up on the grid on Sunday and I know there will be millions of Indian fans, and Team Lotus fans around the world, who will be behind me and the whole team, so I will do the best I can to give them something to cheer for."
Meanwhile Trulli himself, who has endured a difficult 2011 so far, said that he was happy to help CHandhok throughout the weekend.
"I'm looking forward to working with Karun this weekend and doing whatever I can to help him get the most out of his opportunity in Germany," the Italian smiled.
"It's great that the team is true to its word of helping develop young talent, particularly from parts of the word where it is even harder to break through into the top rung of motorsport, so I'll be there to give him guidance and assistance, in and out of the car."
Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes was quick to clarify that the move was not the beginning of the end for veteran driver Trulli, pointing out that the team was in the middle of negotiating a new contract with the Italian.
"I want to take this chance to thank Jarno for helping make Karun's opportunity this weekend possible," Fernandes babbled on Thursday.
"He has been extremely accommodating in stepping to the side for this race and our commitment to him is unwavering."
He went on: "I am delighted to confirm that we are in the process of negotiating an extension to his contract with us and we are all looking forward to unveiling the details of that very soon.
"He is a key member of our team and I hope that we can give him a car as soon as possible that allows him to utilise his considerable talent to the full.
"For this weekend he will be on hand to lend his huge experience and support to Karun and I am sure Jarno, Heikki and Karun will do me, the whole team and all our fans very proud indeed."
Chandhok last raced competitively in the 2010 British Grand Prix, before he was replaced by Sakon Yamamoto at the Hispania squad.
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