Narain Karthikeyan will lead the Carlin F3 team for the year-end Macau Grand Prix, which features the best F3 drivers in the world.

The Indian racing ace has been called upon to lead the three-car Carlin team at the ultra-demanding street track in the Chinese province of Macau after its top racer Alan van der Merwe of South Africa opted out of the event to secure a testing role in Formula One, a statement from Karthikeyan's sponsors, JK Tyres, said.

Nico Rosberg and Portugal's Alvaro Parente are the other members of the team, which won the British F3 series this year.

"Narain has a natural talent which is most perfectly demonstrated in fast demanding corners and at circuits like Macau, where there is only one way to drive - with full commitment even into the totally blind corners," team boss Trevor Carlin said after selecting the Indian to lead the team.