NEW DELHI, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - India´s first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, said Tuesday he was in talks for the 2008 season with Dutch-based team Spyker, now owned partly by liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

"I have been speaking to teams including Spyker. There is nothing concrete at the moment but I will keep pushing and see how things shape up," he told reporters.

The 31-year-old has been strongly tipped to jump on the Spyker bandwagon ever since India´s Mallya announced he had bought a 50 per cent stake in Spyker earlier this month.

Currently an occasional test driver for Williams, Karthikeyan also said he was "talking various deals" with the British-based team for the 2008 season.

"I am in talks with Williams to find out the nature of my job for the next season. But I have kept my options open and am looking for new opportunities," said Karthikeyan, who will race for India in A1 Grand Prix in the coming season.

There has been heightened interest in F1 racing in India since Karthikeyan hit the tracks for Jordan backed by major Indian sponsorship in 2005.

India is all set to host an F1 race in 2009 following a deal between the Indian Olympic Association and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Millions of Indians watch Formula One on television, but cricket remains by far the country´s most popular sport.