NEWS // FORCE INDIA UNVEILS THEIR 2010 F1 ENTRY

Force India have just unveiled their 2010 Formula One entry, the VJM03. The team says their new entry is little more than an improved version of the VJM02, a car that was rather impressive last season, helping Adrian Sutil give the team their first podium finish in only their second year of competition... [read more]

Force India will again use Mercedes power and will keep the same drive lineup they had at the end of the 2009 season, with Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi piloting their new VJM03s.

The team also announced that Paul di Resta would joined the team as a reserve driver and will participate in some Grand Prix weekends.

Liuzzi, who filled the void left by Giancarlo Fisichella, will give the VJM03 its first shakedown tomorrow afternoon at Jerez.

Mark Smith, Force India's chief designer, commented: "The VJM03 is definitely an evolution of the VJM02 in terms of the design philosophies we have developed at Force India over the last year. We are very happy with the direction, therefore we have opted to evolve the car rather than significantly revise.

Obviously one of the major aspects we have had to contend with are regulation changes which have had a considerable impact on some aspects of the design of the car. The removal of refuelling from races increases the amount of fuel needed to be stored in the cars – almost twice the amount we ran in 2009. There is a compromise now: either make the car much longer or wider, or, as we have done, a combination of both. This of course has influenced the mechanical design solutions and also the aerodynamics, specifically with respects to the diffuser and bodywork.

Even with the ban of double diffusers for 2011, we recognise that we still have to push as much as we possibly can in this area in 2010 as we have targets to meet and the double diffuser is a key development aspect of the car.

The VJM02 was a relatively low drag car that showed well on the low downforce tracks. As was demonstrated throughout 2009, that was a useful attribute but as we go into 2010 we have tried to maintain a high level of aerodynamic efficiency, but we recognise that our championship position will be enhanced by a general level of performance that is suited to all types of circuits. We have, we believe, quite an efficient car overall."



Images and Info: F1Fanatic
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey