:: F 1

john the tinca · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject: F 1

Force India launched their 2008 Formula One car on Thursday and co-owner Vijay Mallya said he is confident it would mark the start of better performances.
Force India raced as Spyker last season before being bought and renamed by a group headed by billionaire Mallya.

The Ferrari-powered VJM01 has the same basic chassis as used by Spyker last year but has aerodynamic changes.

"We can confidently state Force India will move up steadily in progress," Mallya said.

Spyker scored just one point and finished 10th overall in the 11-team championship - after McLaren were stripped of all their points for a spying controversy.

Mallya, speaking at the unveiling of the new car in Mumbai, admitted: "We inherited a team whose performance was not that great.

"It is a huge task of performance improvement that is exhilarating, challenging and also satisfying."

Force India's new car will be tested for the first time in Barcelona on 25 February, and the test drives will be spread over three days.

The experience of the drivers - Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and German Adrian Sutil - provided value to the engineering team, Mallya said.

Sutil was the most successful driver from last season's team, which was known as Spyker, while Fisichella joined Force India from Renault.

Force India's budget for the season has been set at $120m (£61.7m), an increase of $50m (21.7m) from last year.

The new Formula One season starts in Australia on 16 March.

john the tinca · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

McLaren boss Ron Dennis is to be quizzed by an Italian magistrate over last season's Formula One spy row.
McLaren were caught with technical data belonging to Ferrari, who have taken legal action despite F1's governing body drawing a line under the matter.

The magistrate handling investigations is to meet Dennis from 18 February.

McLaren confirmed on Thursday their lawyers "had received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed".

McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, chief designer Mike Coughlan and engineering director Paddy Lowe have also been summoned.

john the tinca · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

The director of the Barcelona circuit where Lewis Hamilton was racially abused will take steps to stop similar scenes marring April's Spanish race.
The British driver, 23, was targeted by spectators during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Ramon Pradera said: "We have already spoken to the FIA assuring them that we will eliminate all racist elements.

"Although we cannot assure that every fan will behave in the appropriate manner, we will do our best to act."