Asian Motor Sports

India’s Narain Karthikeyan is not too old to one day return to the formula one grid.

That’s the pledge of Sir Frank Williams, who has signed the former Jordan racer - and his sponsor Tata - for 2006.

But Williams, 63, said his team’s new second test driver has a long way to go.

”Narain is seen as being short on experience, but still very fast, although a bit erratic,” the Briton told an interview with Hindustan Times, a leading Indian newspaper.

However, at 29, Karthikeyan - presently not a regular on the winter circuits as his race colleagues get priority - would be in his thirties if he ever got another shot at the grid.

But Williams insisted: ”Michael Schumacher is nearly ten years older than Narain, so there is plenty of time ahead of him.”

”I do believe that he has the necessary talent.”