India's Karthikeyan back as F1 driver

Narain Karthikeyan of India said on Friday he would return to the Formula One circuit after six years following a deal with the Spanish Hispania racing team.

"Back in F1 in 2011. Signed a deal to race for Hispania. I've always maintained that my time in F1 was not over," Karthikeyan, 33, wrote on his Twitter page.

Hispania confirmed they had signed the Indian driver in a year during which his country will host their maiden F1 race in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi on October 30.

"It is a great pleasure for us to have signed Karthikeyan as our race driver for the 2011 world championship," Hispania team principal Colin Kolles told the Hindu newspaper.

"I have known Narain for a long time and he can revert to the experiences he gained when he was competing for Jordan Grand Prix and as reserve driver for Williams.

"I am sure that his experience and speed will be very useful for the team during the season."

Karthikeyan became India's first F1 driver when he raced for the now defunct Jordan team in 2005.

Hispania were expected to officially announce their driver line-up later on Friday.

The team finished 11th out of 12 in its inaugural year in 2010 racing with another Indian, Karun Chandhok, Bruno Senna, Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien.