The car will be powered by a Mercedes engine, while also fitted with gearbox, hydraulic system and Kinetic Energy Recovery System from McLaren Mercedes – following the engine deal signed by the two teams shortly after the end of the 2008 season. Further details on the car will be unveiled soon.
Team owner Vijay Mallya has also operated several changes in terms of team management, following Force India’s poor performances in 2008. The Indian outfit is yet to win a point in the championship, a situation that led Mallya to terminate the contracts of chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne and team principal Colin Kolles weeks after the end of the 2008 season.
Mallya has therefore taken full control of the team through the winter. Benefiting from the help of Simon Roberts as new CEO of the team (formerly with McLaren), Mallya believes the new technical partnership, combined with his team’s new management, will boost Force India’s performances in 2009.
“At least from my perspective, winning races I think I can certainly aspire for maybe in 2010, but for 2009 I would be happy if we are regularly in the points. That would be already a major step forward,” said Mallya.
The brand new VJM02 will make its first on-track appearance for the general public during next week’s testing at Jerez. Driving the car will be the two Force India race drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil.
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