Narain Karthikeyan's Formula One hopes suffered a setback after Jaguar declared they have no plans to recruit him for their existing test team of F1 racing drivers.

Despite Karthikeyan's impressive performance at the Silverstone race track Jaguar say they have no vacancies that he can fill.

A spokeswoman for Jaguar UK told India Abroad, "Basically, we're obviously pleased with his performance, but we're not looking for another driver.

"Narain's F3 contract with Jaguar last year offered him an opportunity for an F1 test. The team does not currently have any plans to recruit a full time test driver to work along with Eddy Irvine and Pedro De La Rosa."

Karthikeyan cleared an average of 1m.26 seconds per lap on the Silverstone race track on Thursday and said he is "extremely pleased" with his performance in his multi-million pound Jaguar Formula One machine.

The only Indian and non-Japanese Asian who has ever come so close to Formula One status, Karthikeyan told India Abroad that in his eight laps test he out performed last year's Jaguar test driver Thomas Schekter by 1.3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 320 kph.

He also came within an ace of matching Jaguar's current No 2 race driver, Pedro De La Rosa, who reached 1 minute, 25 seconds on the Silverstone Formula One circuit.

Karthikeyan says his Indian sponsors, Ford India, Kingfisher Beer, JK Tyres, Amaron and Triad clothing are all extremely delighted and will continue to support him. He sent them a "big thanks" through India Abroad.

Among those who watched 24-year-old Karthikeyan on Thursday was racing legend and former world champion Austrian Nikii Lauda. Also present was another world champion Scotsman Jackie Stewart, for whom Karthikeyan raced in the Formula 3 Championships two years ago.

Despite the "no current vacancies" reaction from Jaguar, the Madras-born Karthikeyan is optimistic about his future.

He told India Abroad, "Basically, it went off very, very well. So I hope I will get many more chances this year and next year I will become the first Indian full time driver in Formula One.

"Basically, you become a test driver first and then you become a Formula One driver for whoever wants you. Basically, everyone was watching yesterday, all the Schumachers, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda all the teams were there. So I think it should be good.

"They've all said I did an encouraging job and they will let the people who manage me know as soon as possible."

Karthikeyan, who is currently competing in the Nippon championships, is managed by David Robinson, who also looks after the career of Formula 1 drivers Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Jenson Button of Britain."

Karthikeyan added, "I was faster than what the Jaguar test driver Thomas Schekter managed to do all year in the same car. I was faster than him by 1.3 seconds.

"I did only eight flying laps and I did a 1minute 26 seconds something per lap and I think current race driver Pedro Dela Rossa did a 1minute 25 something. I reached a speed of 320 kph - the car can manage a top speed of about 330 kph."