BOMBAY, 2 February 2005 — Narain Karthikeyan is on the verge of becoming the first Indian to drive in Formula One if he secures a sponsorship package to race for Jordan.

Jordan sporting director Trevor Carlin told BBC Sport the team were in talks with Karthikeyan and that a deal was “not finalized, but is very close”.

The team have offered the 28-year-old the drive, but he must finalize sponsorship before the deal could be completed.

“Narain, who currently races in the World Series by Nissan, will make his foray into Formula One racing if the sponsorship comes through,” said an official from Tata Group, one of India’s largest private-sector companies and a Karthikeyan sponsor.

The details of the offer will be disclosed at a press conference here last night.

Karthikeyan was the first Indian to drive a Formula One car professionally last year for Red Bull in the World Series by Nissan.

He was offered the chance to drive for Minardi in 2003, but was unable to raise enough in sponsorship money to secure the offer.

Renault Launch Car for 2005 F-1 Season

In Monte Carlo, Renault launched its R25 car for the 2005 Formula One season in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum yesterday with team chairman Patrick Faure setting the team’s sights firmly on champions Ferrari in 2005.

“No longer will we be satisfied to be regular podium finishers,” said Faure. “This season, we must take regular race wins. Since Renault’s return to Formula 1 in 2002, we have set ambitious objectives and, each time, achieved them. I believe we can deliver on our promises once again.” The new R25 is the work of Renault chief designer Tim Densham and is powered by the all-new RS25 V10 engine, designed to meet the new two weekend reliability target.

“Everything is now in place for us to move up to the next level,” continued Faure. “We want to be fighting for the world title in 2005- 2006, which means we must be among the teams who can compete with Ferrari on an equal footing this year.”

The R25 will be driven in 2005 by Spain’s Fernando Alonso, who finished fourth in the drivers’ championship in 2004, and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, who moved from Swiss team Sauber.

Renault finished third in last year’s constructors’ championship behind runaway winners Ferrari and BAR-Honda.

“Our driver line-up is perfectly balanced,” said Faure. “Fernando will reach his peak this year, while Giancarlo is at the top of his game. He is quick and, most importantly, a finisher. This is a key factor: being able to fight for the world title means systematically collecting points with two cars.”

The 2005 F1 season kicks off March 6 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.