Indian driver within five years – Mallya

(GMM) Installing an Indian driver at the wheel of one of Force India's formula one cars is in the team's five year plan.

That is the revelation of team boss and co-owner, and Indian billionaire, Vijay Mallya.

It was previously stated that Mallya, who took over the former Spyker team at the end of last year, wanted to fast-track an Indian national to a race cockpit.

But despite the candidacy of the former Jordan racer Narain Karthikeyan, and GP2's Karun Chandhok, who finished the series' 2008 season in tenth place, Mallya has vowed to take a meticulous approach.

"I have committed that Force India will identify and groom an Indian driver to eventually participate in F1 through national and international karting and GP2.

"I hope to achieve this over a period of five years," he is quoted as saying by CNN.