Indian racing driver Nar💧ain Karthikeyan is edging closer to the test seat at Minardi for the 2004 season after having missed out on a race 𒀰seat with the Formula One tailenders.

The Indian, who raced this year for 🎀Carlin in the Niss🧜an World Series, recently tested the Minardi PS03 at Vallelunga.

Witඣh race seats at the squad taken by Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner, and with Karthikeyan not🔴 having any F1 race expereience, and therefore eligible to run on the Friday test under the FIA's new rules for 2004.

Paul Stoddart has always been ready to allow drivers with sufficient funding to test for his team, and Indian Narain has pl🅘enty of finance🍸 behind him, including Indian conglomorate, Tata.

"I don't really want to say anything," Narain told f1central.net "I don't like speculation because last time it did the rounds, it didn't necessarily help me, I am🌸 hoping for the♉ best, but I will keep performing."

"It is a financially very sensitive issue at ꦺthe moment, so speculations are best kept awa💦y. But now it all depends on the sponsorship," he said.

Kartikeyan performed well in the Nissan World Series, but it is ဣbelieved that the massive Tata concern had promised the Indian the backing for a berth at Minardi had he managed to win a race in the series.

Karthikeyan has other backers, in the form of JK Tyres. "If there is an offer, it will hav✱e to be for a confirmed drive. The Minardi test speaks volumes of the talent of this man," the website reports JK Tyres head of sport as saying.

[Pic Credit: RPM/M Renzi]