Chennai, Feb 26 (IANS) Talks between Indian hopeful Karun Chandhok and Campos Meta team principal Colin Kolles are in the 'final stages' of a deal that if successfully concluded would make the 26-year-old from Chennai only the second from the country after Narain Karthikeyan to bag a race seat in Formula One.

According to a press release issued by Karun's father and manager Vicky Chandhok here Friday, an announcement is likely to be made in the next couple of days.

Karthikeyan had driven for Jordan team in 2005 before exiting after just one season in Formula One as a race driver.

Karun, who completed three seasons in the GP2 championship last year, had tested for the Red Bull Formula One team in 2007, a few months before Vijay Mallya launched the Force India team in partnership with Kolles.

Late last year, Campos, a first time entrant in Formula One, had signed up Karun's former GP2 team-mate Bruno Senna. However, a change in management after Jose Ramon Carabante bought over the team put Senna's deal in jeopardy.

Kolles said in the release: 'We have been very impressed with Karun's performance in GP2 and are close to finalising a deal with him. India is a great country and it would be great for the sport to have an Indian driver on the grid. However, we will be in a better position to comment on this over the next few days.

'My aim now is to make sure that we are there on the grid in Bahrain which will be a huge achievement in itself. We are moving in the right direction and will do everything in our power to make sure we are running in Bahrain, with Karun in the car.'

With Karun training in Italy, Vicky Chandhok confirmed the talks and said: 'We are in talks with Colin and hope to confirm a deal very soon. We have known Colin for a number of years and we are absolutely amazed by his determination and passion to get the car on the grid in Bahrain. We have utmost faith in him and are hopeful to confirm things in the next few days.'

In the three GP2 seasons, Karun drove for Durango, iSport International and Ocean Racing Technology teams and delivered a few podium finishes.