Karthikeyan hoping to take A1 route back to F1

By Sanjay Rajan

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Driver Narain Karthikeyan said on Friday that he will stay with the A1 Grand Prix series next year but had not given up on a Formula One comeback.

"I'll continue doing A1, but I want to have another crack at Formula One, which is the pinnacle of motor sport," he told Reuters.

Karthikeyan, who in 2005 became India's first Formula One driver, won two races in the self-styled World Cup of Motorsport last season.

He hoped his performances and increasing corporate interest in motor racing in his country could pave the way back to Formula One.

"If you do well in this level, somebody is bound to notice," said the 31-year-old. "I have the backing from the right companies in India. And unlike other countries, there are not many drivers from India trying to get into Formula One.

"At least for the next three to four years I am in a very strong position."

India, world cricket's commercial hub and the fastest growing economy after China, is a big draw for other sports hoping to tap into its booming economy.

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya bought into the Spyker team last year and renamed it Force India while the country is due to stage its first F1 grand prix in 2010. A1 organisers are looking to stage two races there next year.