After news came on Monday that former GP2 Asia Series, A1 GP and FIA Formula 2 participant Armaan Ebrahim signed a one year deal to race in the FIA GT Series, it has been learnt that former F1 driver Karun Chandhok is also close to signing up for a race seat.
Chandhok confirmed that he is close to finalising a deal when he spoke to HT from London. Twenty-nine year old Chandhok raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship last year that included racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Twenty three-year-old Ebrahim switched to sportscar racing after the cost of competing in single-seat racing started to put a strain on his finances.
"Even at the top level you have to pay ridiculous amounts," said Ebrahim. "Single-seat racing is my first love but this (sportscar racing) is something I will have to do in order to stay in motorsport."
Ebrahim will race a race-prepped, 515 horspower BMW Z4 in the six round series that will commence from April 1 at Nogaro in France. The series will feature two one and a half hour 'sprint' races at each round during which Ebrahim will share his car with 28-year-old Matteo Cressoni.