Quiet Dutchman still hoping for 2012 seat

Giedo van der Garde and his management are quietly hopeful their quest for a place in formula one this year bears fruit.

There are much higher-profile candidates for the two remaining race seats at Williams and HRT, but some insiders consider Dutch GP2 driver van der Garde, 26, a likely signing.

His manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen doubles as the commercial director of the former F1 sponsor McGregor, a Dutch fashion house, while his father-in-law is the billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn.

"We are a little quiet but we’re working hard," ten Hoopen told the F1today website. "We will let you know when there is any news."