Van der Garde denies Caterham announcement imminent

Giedo van der Garde has played down reports he is set to be imminently unveiled as a Caterham race driver for 2013.

The well-backed Dutchman, who this year contested the GP2 championship for Tony Fernandes’ team, has also been Caterham’s reserve driver in 2012 and has recently been driving the green CT01 in Friday morning practice sessions.

Rumours last week, as van der Garde tested the Caterham in Abu Dhabi, suggested the 27-year-old is now on the cusp of securing a full race drive for 2013.

"Discussions are ongoing," van der Garde is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

"On both sides there is the intention to keep working together, and I hope to have clarity within two to three weeks."

Because Caterham stands to lose millions in Concorde Agreement earnings due to falling behind Marussia in the constructors’ championship, it is rumoured van der Garde could oust the team’s highly rated paid driver Heikki Kovalainen.

And according to speculation, Frenchman Charles Pic is the favourite to replace Vitaly Petrov, whose Russian funding has reportedly dried up.