No official launch for Force India’s VJM02
True to other Formula 1 teams, Force India will not hold an official launch for its 2009 car. Last year, the event in Mumbai was highly publicized with a setup in front of the famous Gateway of India monument. However, the Kingfisher company of the team owner, Vijay Mallya, is not immune to the global […]
True to other Formula 1 teams, Force India will not hold an official launch for its 2009 car.
Last year, the event in Mumbai was highly publicized with a setup in front of the famous Gateway of India monument. However, the Kingfisher company of the team owner, Vijay Mallya, is not immune to the global financial crisis.
« There will be no official launch this year, » confirmed the Indian billionaire in the columns of the Indian daily The Telegraph.
For 2009, the team based in Silverstone has partnered with McLaren and Mercedes. The VJM02, with a Mercedes engine and McLaren chassis, will only appear during the last two test sessions next month before heading to Melbourne.
Even with this extremely tight schedule, former McLaren driver David Coulthard believes that Force India could be the shock of the season in terms of performance.
Mallya said: « I would like to say one thing, do not expect miracles. »
« No team will have done enough testing and as a result, the first two races will basically be shakedowns. From Barcelona onwards, we will be very competitive, » he promised.
