Chandok eyes F1 drive in 2009

Karun Chandok is confident of clinching a 2009 Formula One drive if he produces a strong second season in the feeder GP2 European series next year. The 23-year-old has signed for UK's I-Sport International, the top GP2 team, after winning the driver and team championships this season.

"GP2 was always going to be a two-year plan," Chandok told a news conference on Wednesday.

"Realistically if we finish in the top five in the championship in 2008, that will put me in a very good position to move up to a Formula One drive for 2009."

He will race in the GP2 Asia series starting next month before the European series begins in April.