Force India to replace Spyker in 2008 F1 season
A booming Indian economy has recently seen the Asian country make a splash in all things automotive.
Indian car manufacturer, Tata, now one of the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturers is currently poised to takeover Jaguar and Land Rover in a proposed £1 billion deal that would herald the first time a western car company has been purchased by an Indian company.
This year, Tata is also expected to launch its "one-lakh" car. One lakh, Indian for 100,000 rupees, equates to approximately £1,200. Tata hopes that the one-lakh car, which will initially be exclusive to India, will shake up the market by being affordable by Indian motorists, particularly those who currently only deem motorcycles to be within their budget.
Perhaps more surprisingly, Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, has taken a completely different approach to the nation's automotive interests. Moving away from the low-cost cars aimed at the majority population, Mallya acquired flailing Formula 1 team Spyker for approximately £65 million.
Having re-branded the team to "Force India F1", Mallya plans to double the team's budget this coming season. In 2010, India will become part of the F1 circuit calendar by hosting its first Formula 1 Grand Prix at Greater Noida, near Delhi. Showing his ambition, Mallya states that he aims to take the Force India team onto the podium in time for the 2010 race.
To help usher India into the Formula 1 world, drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil have been chosen by Mallya as the team's drivers. Fisichella's experience and Sutil's youth could prove to be a useful partnership.
Mallya clearly has his sights set high, but with a nation that largely ignores any sport other than cricket, it remains to be seen if a multi-million dollar sport such as Formula 1 will appeal to its citizens. At the team's official launch event however, Mallya was quick to point out that Formula 1 was not "out of reach for what is perceived a developing nation like India".
It'll be a momentous occasion to see Force India on the starting grid in 2008 and I wish them all the best.
Official Force India F1 website: forceindiaf1.com
