Motor racing-Chandhok sees three chances of F1 drive next year

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - India's Karun Chandhok says he has a real chance of racing in Formula One next year after talks with all the new teams due to enter.

"My father, our sponsors, advisors and I have been quite busy at following the driver market in F1 and making sure we're talking to the right people," the 25-year-old Chennai-born driver said on his website (www.karunchandhok.com) on Wednesday.

"But it's a very complicated time in F1 with a lot of unknowns. "We've met with all the new teams and some of the existing ones to explore options for 2010.

"At the moment, I would say there are still three very realistic possibilities to race in Formula One next year but I don't think anything will be public for a few more weeks," he added.

Formula One is due to expand from the 10 teams this year to 13 teams in 2010, despite the departure of Toyota and BMW-Sauber.

Of the new teams, only Spain's Campos Meta has so far named a driver -- Chandhok's former GP2 team mate, Brazilian Bruno Senna.

"Of the 26 pieces in the F1 driver puzzle there are only maybe 10 that are in place so there's still a lot up in the air and I am still optimistic that something will work out," said Chandhok, who has won two races in GP2 and tested for Red Bull's Formula One team in 2007.

Silverstone-based Force India, owned by Indian tycoon and family friend Vijay Mallya, has given Chandhok time in the McLaren simulator as part of an agreement with that team.