Wednesday 19 November at 12:01 : Nov.19 (GMM) Lucas di Grassi has played down the role his nationality could play in his selection for a Honda race seat in 2009

Like countrymen Bruno Senna and Rubens Barrichello, the Brazilian is in the running to race with the Japanese team next year

Earlier this year, it was suggested that the Brazilian oil firm Petrobras wanted a local driver to complement its arrival as a Honda sponsor in 2009

24-year-old di Grassi, who finished third behind Senna in this year's GP2 championship, played down the link

"It has nothing to do with nationality, but I am proud that so many Brazilians are fighting for a seat," he is quoted as saying by Formule 1 Race Report

"Bruno and I were offered this test because of how we performed in GP2," di Grassi insisted