Force India unveils car, team colours

The Gateway of India came alive to the roar of the Formula One engines on a wintry Thursday evening here. No, the F1 hadn’t come to India but it was another occasion to celebrate the country’s foray in the world of motorsport - the unveiling of Force India’s new car for the 2008 season.



The gold, tungsten and white machine, christened VJMO1 after its owners, Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya and Dutch entrepreneur Micheal Mol, was laid bare in front of an eclectic audience comprising motorsport gurus, corporate honchos, social butterflies and film actresses.

"It is a moment of immense pride, emotion and passion," remarked Mallya, who is also the chairman and managing director of the Force India Formula 1 team. Five years ago nobody could have thought of putting up an Indian team in F1, he indicated. "India wasn’t ready for this commitment," he reasoned. But the economic boom played a huge part in Mallya’s drive to buy a F1 team. "It is a small manifestation of the Indian surge," he added in good measure.

To put things in perspective, he made an expense statement too. For the 2008 season, more than $120 million (Rs 480 crores) have been pumped into the venture, he revealed.

The expectation levels too were understandably high. "When India hosts an F1 race in 2010, Force India will be on the podium," he thundered. He even exhorted the cricketing audience to come out in support for Force India, when the season begins with the first race at Melbourne on March 16.

Keeping in with the mood of the evening, Giancarlo Fisichella, the main driver of the team, did a namaste for the shutterbugs as he posed for pictures.

Also making a presence of the car were: ICICI Bank, Medien (German consumer electric company) and Kanyan Capital (African investment company), the co-sponsors of the team.

Mike Gascoiyne, technical director of the team, said: "The car mechanically is very sound. Aerodynamically we can improve. I know that. We are two seconds off the pace as of now but I think we can knock off three-quarters of a second. The car is definitely a good standard to move forwward," he told.

A team is as good as its drivers and in Giarcarlo Fisichella and Adrian Suteil, the team has a mix of experience and talent that will serve it well, according to Gascoiyne.