Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, January 21, 2008
First Published: 16:24 IST(21/1/2008)
Last Updated: 16:26 IST(21/1/2008)
After fluttering the tri-colour on the Formula 1 grid, Force India has now set about the task of unearthing homegrown Michael Schumachers and Lewis Hamiltons with a new driver programme.
The first concrete step was taken when the Motorsports Association of India (MAI) collaborated with continental motorsports bodies to form the Autosport Academy Asia in Johor Baru, Malaysia.
While MAI would identify the budding drivers who can make it big, Force India would do everything else to groom them for the big league of Formula One.
"The MAI will identify deserving young Indian drivers who will be supported by Force India to undergo a driver training course at the academy," Vijay Mallya, Chairman and Managing Director of the Formula One team told PTI.
"Drivers who show exceptional abilities will then be further supported by Force India to race in selected European Championships," said Mallya, also the MAI chairman.
With Mallya, along with the Mol family, taking over the Spyker team and renaming it Force India, many expected to see an Indian driver -- either Narain Karthikeyan or Karun Chandhok -- behind the wheels.
But while Karthikeyan veered to A1 GP, Chandhok felt he needed another season in the GP2 series before taking the F1 plunge.
Force India subsequently unveiled an impressive driving line-up comprising Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil and Viantonio Liuzzie, the last being the test driver.
Mallya said the basic idea behind the new programme was to produce Indian F1 drivers.
"The principal objective is to identify, train and eventually prepare an Indian driver for the Force India F1 Team to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship," he said.
The academy in Malaysia, based at the Johar circuit, will be affiliated to the French Motorsport Federation(FFSA), which runs a driver training programme in Formula Campus single seater racing cars at their facility in Le Mans.
The Asia academy will have two driver courses which will assess if the youngster is good enough for F1.
To motivate the drivers, two prizes would be up for grabs at the academy.
The first prize winners will get a drive in the newly upgraded long course in Le Mans where there will be a Euro 60,000 subsidy from the FIA - to be allocated from the McLaren fine -- and the second one would come in the form of a Euro 30,000 subsidy.
And in case any Indian makes it to Le Mans, Force India would offer its help to the driver.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Force India programme to produce Indian F1 drivers
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2 comments:
There are new Formula1 circuits are being added every year hope one day every country actively participates in this flamboyant sport, since the tracks are very expensive these tracks are confined to only to some countries hope in future many countries participate in this sport.
Hey Dhruv,
Thats some useful information there. But i think its going to take quite a while for The Force to start spotting drivers. The MAI's National Go Karting season starts only in September. But its an encouraging step nevertheless.
As you have also correctly pointed out, im not too sure an Indian is ready yet. Thats what Mallya said as well. I know that an Indian driver will make all of us feel more proud but lets face it we want a point more than anything right??
Watch out for Armaan Ebrahim - hes 18 and already in GP2 Asia!
A new Lewis maybe.
Also id like to tell u that Force India F1 has an official Fan club. It can be accessed on Club Force
You'll find a lot of discussions like these. So do visit and hopefully blog about it:) - lets make our numbers bigger! May the Force be With You.
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