Former Hispania Racing driver Karun Chandhok has secured a role as the reserve driver for Team Lotus in the 2011 F1 season, in their increasingly convoluted driver system, and will drive the T128 at the Australian GP this weekend.
Chandhok had been linked with the team for some time over the winter, after he raced in Formula One for the Hispania Racing squad across the first half of the 2010 season.
But it looked initially as though he had missed out on a role with the team, after Lotus announced a trio of test drivers earlier this month, with Chandhok not among the names.
However, on the eve of the new season, the two sides have finally agreed a deal, and Chandhok will be fast-tracked into a testing role for the team on the opening day of the 2011 season this Friday.
Chandhok will also serve as the team's 'official reserve driver', meaning that he would be the first choice to stand in for either race driver should that become a necessity.
"I've been talking to the team for quite a while about a role with them and I'm delighted we're now able to confirm that I will be driving for Team Lotus in 2011," Chandhok grinned after the deal was announced.
He explained that: "The details of exactly which sessions I will be in the car for are being worked out now and after having spent some time with them at the recent pre-season tests I can see exactly how passionate everyone in Team Lotus is about taking this team back to the top of the F1 grid.
"These are very exciting times for Team Lotus and it's a real honour to be able to play a part in helping shape this team's future.
"I want to thank Tony, Din, Nasa, Riad and Mike for having the faith in me to give me a chance to help the team develop and I'll do my best to repay that faith wherever I can."
Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes added that Chandhok "represents the future of motor racing", as he said that the team was excited to work with the Indian driver.
"This is another great day for Team Lotus," he beamed, "Karun's appointment to our team gives us not only his immense driving talent and F1 experience, both of which will help us develop the car even further, but also brings one of the warmest, most professional personalities I have the pleasure of knowing into the Team Lotus family."
He added: "I do not think it is going too far to say that Karun represents the future of motor racing - he is living proof that geography is no boundary to talent and ambition and that you will succeed if you work hard and keep dreaming.
"Everyone in the team is excited about working with Karun, and I cannot wait to see him representing the Indian nation in our car."
A report last week suggested that one of the team's other test drivers, former GP2 Asia champion Davide Valsecchi, would be driving for the team in Friday practice at Australia and Malaysia.
It is not currently clear if the team plan to run two reserves in FP1, with Chandhok and Valsecchi replacing race drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli, or if Chandhok has superceded Valsecchi's position.
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