Force India
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| Full name | Force India Formula One |
|---|---|
| Base | Silverstone, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom |
| Team principal/s |  Colin Kolles |
| Chief Technical Officer |  Mike Gascoyne |
| Technical director | James Key |
| Race drivers | 20.Adrian Sutil 21.  Giancarlo Fisichella |
| Test drivers | 40.Vitantonio Liuzzi |
| Chassis | Force India VJM-01 |
| Engine | Ferrari |
| Tyres | Bridgestone |
| Formula One World Championship Career | |
| Debut | 2008 Australian Grand Prix |
| Latest race | 2008 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Races competed | 6 |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
| Race victories | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| 2007 position | Competed as Spyker F1 |
Force India F1 is a Formula One motor racing team. The team was formed in October 2007, when a consortium led by Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for € 88 million.[1]
Force India F1 represents increased Indian participation within Formula One, with Delhi set to host the first ever Indian Grand Prix in 2010.[2] The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile confirmed the change in name from Spyker to Force India on 24th October 2007.[3]
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[edit] Background
Although created in 2007, the team's roots can be traced back to 1991, when it was founded as Jordan Grand Prix. The Silverstone-based squad and facilities were bought by the Midland group in 2005 and re-named Midland F1 in 2006, before being sold to Spyker Cars towards the end of the 2006 season. However, the running costs of a small Formula One team once again caused the sale of the team this time to the Orange India Holdings group, with Dr. Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol taking over the ownership of the team.
[edit] The Buyout of Spyker F1
Rumours about the possible sale of the team had been abundant in the paddock throughout the last few months of the 2007 season, after Spyker announced their intention to sell 50% of the team,[4] less than a year after Spyker bought it from Midland. The cost of the team was € 88 million, several million more than Spyker paid for the team initially.[5]
[edit] 2008 and onwards
Colin Kolles will remain as team principal into 2008. Michiel Mol is director of F1 racing, and Mike Gascoyne is the Chief Technology Officer.
Force India will use the VJM-01 chassis, an updated version of the previous year's Spyker car, for the first part of the 2008 season.[6] The team will be using customer Ferrari engines in 2008, with the team's existing deal with Ferrari running to 2010.[7] The team will also be using the Indian flag in its team logo from 2008.[3] Former Spyker sponsor Etihad Airways have a contract with the team until 2009, and have yet to announce any changes to this arrangement. Force India will construct their own cars as Spyker did, rather than using customer chassis.[8] Force India has a contract with Adrian Sutil for 2008.[5] In November 2007 the team invited Vitantonio Liuzzi, Christian Klien, Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher, Franck Montagny and former Spyker test drivers Giedo van der Garde and Roldan Rodriguez to take part in winter tests along with Sutil.[9] Giancarlo Fisichella was reported to have taken the second seat at Force India after being replaced at Renault F1 by Fernando Alonso. [10][11]. On January 10, 2008, Force India confirmed Giancarlo Fisichella as first driver and Vitantonio Liuzzi as a test driver. Adrian Sutil had already been confirmed and took the second driver Role. Former Spyker test drivers Roldan Rodriguez and Giedo van der Garde have been confirmed as test drivers for Force India F1.[12]
[edit] VJM-01
VJM-01 was launched with a white, gold and tungsten colored livery at the Gateway of India, in Mumbai, India, on February 7th 2008. The car was named after Force India F1's co-owner Dr. Vijay Mallya.
[edit] Sponsorship
Kingfisher, a brand owned by Vijay Mallya, is the primary sponsor. Other sponsors for 2008 include ICICI Bank, Medion, Kanyan Capital and Reliance Industries limited . [13]
[edit] Partners
Force India F1 has tied up with Airbus and EADS for technological support.[14]
[edit] Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Force India VJM01 | Ferrari V8 | B | AUS | MAL | BHR | ESP | TUR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | EUR | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | CHN | BRA | 0* | 10th* | |
| Adrian Sutil |
Ret | Ret | 19 | Ret | 16 | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||||||
| Giancarlo Fisichella |
Ret | 12 | 12 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret |
* Season in progress
[edit] References
- ^ "Spyker F1 team officially sold", GPUpdate.net, 2007-10-05.
- ^ "India agree grand prix", BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ a b "FIA approve Spyker's Force India name change", Formula One Administration Ltd, 2007-10-24. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ "Spyker considers sale of team", BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ a b "Spyker changes name", BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ "Force India sticking with the F8-VII", uk.eurosport.yahoo.com, 2007-11-13. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
- ^ "Spyker's Dr Vijay Mallya", Formula One. Retrieved on 2007-10-24.
- ^ "Mallya: Spyker to remain a constructor", Formula One, 2007-9-11. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
- ^ Force India Begins Winter Testing. Spyker F1. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
- ^ "Force India sign Sutil’s new teammate!", Automoto365.com, 2007-12-17. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ "Another Fisichella to Force India Report", F1-Live.com, 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-21.
- ^ Force India Profile on Formula1.com. Formula1.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
- ^ Force India F1 Sponsors
- ^ "Force India's first target will be to beat Aguri", racing.indiatimes.com, 2008-02-08. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
[edit] External links
- Force India Formula One Team Official Website
- Formula Is Number 1 For India
- F1: India Inc ups stakes
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