Sponsor clash to keep Karthikeyan on bench
The Indian, whose main carmaker-sponsor Tata may be in conflict with 'Super Aguri' backer Honda, is reportedly also hesitant to join the prospective new team as a race driver alongside Japan's Takuma Sato.
Sources close to 28-year-old Karthikeyan suggested to the 'Press Trust of India' that another year like 2005 with Jordan – at the back of the grid – would only damage his fledgling grand prix career.
''Super Aguri are lagging behind,'' the source told PTI. ''They say the (new) car will be ready for the San Marino grand prix, but we have our doubts.''
Other Indian media reports said Karthikeyan would make a decision by January 15. It is also purported that an official role at Williams could involve sharing the 'Friday' test drive with Alex Wurz.
01/05/06 (GMMf1NET) Clashing sponsors are likely to spoil Narain Karthikeyan's quest to remain on the F1 race grid.
The 28-year-old, who debuted for Jordan last year but fell out with team boss Colin Kolles, is sponsored mainly by 'Tata', an Indian car maker.
The company had been linked with a title sponsorship of the new Japanese 'Super Aguri' outfit, after early favorite, Tokyo-based Softbank, reportedly pulled out.
It would've involved Karthikeyan at the wheel.
But the 'Outlook India' publication claimed on Thursday that there is a 'conflict of interest' between Aguri and Tata — the team's sponsor and supplier, Honda.
Although the true extent of the connection between Leafield based Super Aguri and Honda is not entirely certain, the Japanese carmaker has a strong presence in India and neither it or Tata are likely to want to 'share' their F1 camp.
''Tata Motors would not want Narain to be seen driving for their rival in the Indian market,'' sources close to Karthikeyan, the first ever Indian in F1, said.
Grove based Williams, however, are keeping the 'offer' of a fourth-driver testing role open for Narain, even if the coveted 'Friday' seat has already gone to Alex Wurz.
Karthikeyan's manager, Piers Hunnisett, told the 'Times of India' that, as well as Williams, he also negotiated with 'three others'.
He told Autosport that the ultimate objective should be to allow NK to 'keep his profile up'.
Piers Hunnisett explained: ''(Then) he could be in a good position by the end of the year.''