INDIA in F1

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  • Sergio completes 68 laps on Sauber C31-Ferrari

    Sergio on a C31-Ferrari at Jerez on 8 Feb 2012. A Sauber F1 team photo

    8 Feb 2012: After completing the second day of testing in the pre-seasonat Jerez de la Frontera, the Sauber team said in a Press Release that Sergio Pérez on Wednesday got his first taste of the new Sauber C31-Ferrari. He completed 68 laps. The pit crew had a busy day implementing some new aero parts and fixing a fuel system problem in the afternoon.

    After completing 58 laps on Wednesday, the 8th of February at Jerez, Sergio Perez of the Sauber F1 team said: “For me it was a positive day. It was great to be back on track after the winter break and so far I’m happy with the new car. I feel confident. It was a shame that we lost track time due to the fuel system problem in the afternoon, but I think we can catch up tomorrow. We have a huge programme for Thursday and I’m looking forward to it very much. Compared to yesterday we have already learnt a great deal more about the C31.”

    Team’s Head of Track Engineering Giampaolo Dall’Ara said: “It was Sergio’s first day of testing with the new car. To start with he had to familiarise himself with the C31 and he did a bit of set-up work in the morning. During the lunch break we implemented new aero parts on the car. They are working well and as expected which is important and good news. In the afternoon we unfortunately lost track time because of a problem with the fuel system. So far we have only used the medium tyre compound.”

     

    ends/9Feb2012

  • Great to sit in the new car so early on: Bianchi

    Great to sit in the new car so early on: Bianchi

    Jerez, 8 Feb 2012: Sahara Force India completed a second day of work in Jerez as new reserve driver, Jules Bianci, enjoyed his first run in the VJM05. In the afternoon Paul Di Resta returned to the cockpit to wrap up his time in the car this week.
    The programme saw a continuation of Tuesday’s work as the team continued to collect data and evaluated test items. As well as systems checks and further set-up evaluation, the team also carried out some aero work, said a team release.
    Jules is back in action tomorrow morning before he hands over to Nico Hulkenberg in the afternoon.
    Day Two Stats:
    Chassis: VJM05-02
    Laps: Jules: 46 / Paul: 69
    Mileage: Jules: 204 km / Paul: 306 km 
    Fastest lap: Jules 1:20.221 / Paul 1:20.272
    Jules Bianchi: “It was a really good morning and great to get my chance in the new car so early on. There was a lot to get used to, especially the steering wheel and remembering where all the switches are, but it didn’t take too long before I felt happy in the car. It may only have been half a day, but the team asked me to do quite a lot of things and we managed to complete almost 50 laps before lunch. For me this year is all about learning and helping the team as much as I can, so today was important for that and getting to know the team. It’s great that I am back in the car tomorrow and I will try and get closer to the limit, because it’s important preparation for my Friday practice running this year.”
    Paul Di Resta: “Half a day, but quite intense: 69 laps in just over three hours, which is a really good effort. But it was also one of the more difficult days because the wind seemed to get very strong from midday onwards, which made driving the car very tricky. However, we managed to get a clear direction on a couple of set-up changes so that’s given us an indication of the areas we should explore over the coming weeks. After 101 laps yesterday and 115 today, we’ve clearly built a good, strong car, but now it’s about getting into the detail, going over the data and getting ready for Barcelona.”
    Andrew Green, Technical Director
    “This morning was our first chance to work with Jules, so we focussed on getting him comfortable and familiar with all the systems on the car. He acclimatised quickly and soon found his rhythm, which meant we could push ahead with the aero work we had planned for this morning. He did an excellent job, worked well with the engineers and has settled into the team.
    “In the afternoon session, Paul evaluated some set-up options while running with different tyre compounds: soft, medium and hard. The windy track conditions made that quite challenging, but we made the best of it and managed to get an early indication of where we should focus our efforts to extract performance from the car.”

  • 101 laps for Paul, 2nd fastest time behind Kimi at Jerez

    Jerez, 7 Feb 2012: Sahara Force India driver Paul di Resta of Britain was happy with his own fitness and feels that the new car VJMO5-02 is up to the challenge for the 2012 F1 season which begins with the first Grand Prix at Melbourne on March 15.

    Paul completed 101

    Paul di Resta of Sahara Force India in VJM05-02 on Tuesday at Jerez. FI F1 team pic

    laps on Tuesday to clock the second fastest time behind Kimi Raikkonen said : “It was a good start to our winter test programme with 101 laps completed, which allowed us to get through all our objectives and a bit more.” With 447 kms under his belt in the new car Paul fastest lap was 1:19.772.

    The 25-year old, who performed well as a rookie last year for the Silverstone based team will have Nico Hulkenberg, who replaced Adrian Sutil, as the second driver. Jules Bianchi will be reserve driver, who is assured of a drive at least on 9 Fridays this season.

    Sahara Force India’s winter testing programme got underway on Tuesday as the team made the most of warm and sunny weather conditions in Jerez, Spain. The team started systems checks, data collection and set-up work.

    “The baseline balance felt pretty good and the car performed consistently over the longer runs, which was useful for collecting the data we need. So I think we can be positive and heading into the next three days will be interesting as we have more test items to evaluate. On a personal level it’s also nice to spend such a busy day in the car to shake off the rust and assess my fitness level,” said Paul di Resta.

    “It is an ideal way to begin our week as we compelted over 100 laps,” said team’s Technical Director Andrew Green. “We ran on the new 2012-spec hard and medium Pirelli tyre compounds throughout, which will help give us some consistency when analysing the data tonight. As usual, Paul’s feedback was excellent and we’re starting to get a good idea of the set-up direction we should take for the coming days. We will also continue with more of the work we started today and try to get as many miles on the car as possible.”

  • Sauber F1 Team launches C31 in Jerez

    Sauber F1 Team launches C31 in Jerez

    Hinwil/Jerez de la Frontera, 6 Feb 2012: On Monday, (6.14 pm IST) the Sauber F1 Team launched its new car for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship. Drivers Kamui Kobayashi (25) and Sergio Pérez (22) unveiled the Sauber C31-Ferrari at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain, where on Tuesday official Formula One pre-season testing will get underway. For filming purposes the C31 covered its initial laps on Monday according to a team Press Release.

    Goals & paths: The Sauber F1 Team will enter its 20th season in the FIA Formula One World Championship spearheaded by an unchanged driver line-up. With Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Pérez and reserve driver Esteban Gutiérrez piloting the new Sauber C31-Ferr

    Sauber Car launch

    ari, the Swiss outfit will be looking to further improve in 2012. “We’re aiming to start the new season as strongly as we did in 2011, but then also to maintain this level of performance throughout the year,” explains Team Principal Peter Sauber. “Our goal is to finish regularly in the points so as to put ourselves in a significantly better position in the World Championship.”

    Only three of their rivals on this year’s grid have been in Formula One longer than Peter Sauber’s team. After an excellent start to 2011, the team’s form fell away mid-way through the season following the decision to cease development of a controversial technology. “The Sauber C31-Ferrari boasts a large number of promising new developments, but in other areas it is a systematic further development of last year’s car,” says Sauber.
    “We are looking forward to another season working with our young and talented drivers,” adds the Team Principal. “Kamui will be competing in his third full season in F1. Last year we asked him to take on leadership responsibilities within the team and he has grown into the role. With his rookie season behind him Sergio is now approaching his second season, which is often the most difficult in a driver’s Formula One career. Both drivers have huge potential and will work with the same race engineers as in 2011 to continue developing that promise. Esteban will be competing full-time in GP2 in his second season in the category and has shown – most recently in the November test – that he could also step into the car for a Grand Prix, if required.”
    Young & quick: The personable Kamui Kobayashi (25) became an instant favourite of Formula One fans on his arrival in the sport, not least with his daring but fair overtaking moves. “2012 will be not only my third season in Formula One, but also my third with the same team,” says the young Japanese. “We’ve been through a lot together and can benefit from our shared experiences. In my first year with the team we had a bad start but a good second half to the season. The second year was the exact reverse. In our third year together we should be a reliable bet to finish consistently in the points. I’m really looking forward to the new season with the Sauber F1 Team.”
    In 2012 Sergio Pérez (22) is setting out to put the lessons from a turbulent but impressive rookie season in 2011 into practice. “My first year in Formula One felt like three years, there were so many new things to take in,” admits the Mexican. “But now I feel like I’ve arrived in Formula One and I’m determined to take a step up in 2012 and achieve better results for the team on a regular basis.”
    20-year-old Esteban Gutiérrez will be focusing on the races in the GP2 Series. “At the same time,” says the team’s other Mexican driver, “I’m looking forward to working more with the Sauber F1 Team. I’m learning a lot by being able to experience and analyse the professionalism and intensity of the team’s work from the inside. It’s good preparation for me.”
    Fresh & evolutionary: Summarising all the efforts put into developing the new Sauber C31-Ferrari, Chief Designer Matt Morris says: “The C31 is revolutionary where we had fresh ideas, particularly at the rear of the car, and it is an evolution where we knew we could carry over certain approaches. We had to improve on the weaknesses we identified on the C30, but at the same time we wanted to maintain its strengths.”
    The engineers opted again to go with a high chassis design. However, according to the new 2012 regulations, the nose cone needs to be lower, which is a safety requirement. As a result, the nose cone has quite a different shape to how it was in the past. The chassis itself shows absolute minimum cross sections all the way to the cockpit.
    By an overall tidier design, the front suspension has been optimised for integration with the chassis and the upright. Otherwise it’s a traditional layout with a pushrod and a high-level wishbone.
    Packaging was further optimised under the side pods in order to open up more aerodynamic development scope in that area. The cooling layout is based around a similar philosophy to the C30, because that proved to be effective. It helps to get the volume of the coolers forward and allows the design of very compact rear bodywork.
    A familiar element of the car is the Ferrari engine, onto which an all-new carbon transmission is bolted – also supplied by Ferrari. The longitudinally mounted transmission is a very tidy, neat unit. The entire rear of the car is much more tightly packaged, helped by the gearbox design, and in addition the engineers have gone in some new directions around the floor at the back of the car. The exhaust tailpipe positions are regulated in 2012, which has had a further effect on how the bodywork design has been set out.
    The rear suspension is now a pullrod design. It shows a long pullrod towards the front of the gearbox and wide angled wishbones. This design allows improved packaging of the rear spring and damper elements. Despite the change from pushrod to pullrod, in terms of kinematics the engineers maintained a similar direction to the one they went in for the C30.
    Finally, Morris casts a glance at the next steps after the roll-out of the Sauber C31-Ferrari: “The current plan is to launch a fairly basic roll-out version of the car, which was defined quite some time ago. We will then be testing development parts during the upcoming weeks with a late upgrade for the first race on 18th March in Australia. Therefore the car will look quite different in Melbourne compared to the roll-out car.”

  • Caterham F1 Team confirms Giedo van der Garde as reserve driver

    Hingham (UK), 4 Feb 2012: Caterham F1 Team has today confirmed that Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde will be the team’s official Reserve Driver in 2012, a press release said on Saturday.

    Giedo van der Garde in cockpit with Gianluca Pisanello, 3 Feb 2012.

    Giedo will participate in the pre-season tests and will take part in a number of FP1 sessions throughout the season as a core part of the team’s driver line-up.

    Tony Fernandes, Caterham F1 Team Principal, said: “We are delighted to welcome Giedo into the family as Reserve Driver. He is a very exciting prospect that we have been monitoring since the early days of our team, and we are all looking forward to seeing how he can help us develop throughout the season as we take our next steps towards the established midfield teams ahead.

    “His performances in GP2, particularly in 2011, mark Giedo out as one of motorsport’s brightest prospects, and securing him as Reserve Driver is a real coup for our team. I am sure he will flourish on and off track, and we wish him all the best as he takes the next step into Formula 1 with us.”

    Giedo van der Garde commented: “I’m very happy to become a part of the Caterham F1 Team family today and I’m very excited about the next step in my career within Formula 1. The team is fresh, with some fantastic people here. Tony Fernandes is extremely ambitious and he has brought in a lot of very good people in to help grow this team for future success. I’m looking forward to learning and moving forward with the team, in and out of the car.

    “It’s great for Holland that we again have a Dutch driver who is connected to Formula 1. Being the only Dutch driver now is very good for the sport in Holland, as the interest was perhaps on the decline since the Verstappen years, however I hope to generate the same excitement for my country and really bring Formula 1 to them.

    “I feel that the team as a whole is very ambitious. They appear to be very positive people and I think they are building up, growing and developing very quickly. I think this year they will be strong contenders! We’ll see after the test but I really have a feeling that it’s a big family here and they are pushing very hard to move up the grid.

    “I feel very strong now, I’m fit, and I’m mentally ready. Of course I’ve spent a lot of time driving with guys who are now in Formula 1 and I feel I’m ready for this. I’d like to thank McGregor and everybody who has supported me in my career and for helping me take this next exciting step.”

    Ends

  • HRT signs up Narain Karthikeyan for another F1 season

    HRT signs up Narain Karthikeyan for another F1 season

    Narain Karthikeyan – File picture courtesy www.narainracing.com


    Bangalore, 3 Feb 2012 (Scorp News): Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian to make it to the Formula 1 World Championship, will be entering into his third F1 season as he clinched a drive with the Spanish outfit, HRT F1 team, to complete the line-up of drivers for the 2012 F1 grid. Hispania Racing Team (HRT) announced Narain as in the line-up along side 40-year old Pedro de la Rosa, on Friday afternoon, on a day when the Ferrari team and Sahara Force India team were set to launch their new cars for the season.

    The 35-year old Karthikeyan, who finished all but one of the 8 races he started in 2011 for HRT before the drive was handed over to Daniel Ricciardo, came back for a one-off home race to show his expertise and many feel that his performance at the historic inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit is the reason for clinching the final seat on the grid. However, it is well-known that HRT was struggling not only at the back of the grid but was trying to rope in drivers who can bring in sponsors but Narain feels that he is fast enough among the contenders which brought the drive and believes that he and the team can benefit from the relationship.

    HRT’s new car is scheduled to debut in the second pre-season test at Barcelona on February 21 or in the next three days. Here is an interview with Narain Karthikeyan released by HRT:

    Q: It has finally been revealed that you will occupy the last seat available as an official driver, how are you facing this new challenge in Formula 1?

    Narain Karthikeyan: It all really started after the Indian GP, where we had a good performance which led to the belief that I am still competitive to drive in Formula 1. It is no secret how difficult it is to stay in F1 at this time, but I ensured that I was physically and mentally ready for any opportunity that arose. So I can’t wait to get back in the car and return to action once again.

    Q: The uncertainty you’ve faced in the period spanning from the end of last season until the moment you’ve been confirmed can’t have been easy to handle. What have you done to keep yourself occupied?

    NK: Well, there were more ups and downs than I can remember, positive and negative days – sometimes I just gave up but it was quickly followed by yet another glimmer of hope. It was exhausting mentally, but like the adage goes, all’s well that ends well.

    There was plenty to keep me occupied during the winter though, like I said earlier I trained as hard as I would have if my drive was confirmed last season; fitness is critical in F1 and racing in general. Then there were lots of discussions, which meant a lot of travelling – flights, hotel stays and those sorts of things. So I didn’t have a whole lot of time to sit and mull over things, to be honest.

    Q: This will be your third season in Formula 1, what targets have you set yourself?

    NK: As far as results go, it largely depends on the development of the car, although I must say that things are looking promising. Otherwise, I have no doubts in my ability, I am extremely confident as last year and after the first few races, I drove better than ever. So I’ll be pushing hard no doubt about that. A lot of things change this year even though it is the same team, and I am sure it’ll be for the better. The new management is wholly focused on all-round improvement and from what I have seen – they will do so.

    Q: Practically the whole structure is new with respect to 2011, what sensations have the new directors given you?

    NK: The team has some very capable and experienced people on-board now, like the new Team Principal Luis Pérez-Sala and my teammate Pedro de la Rosa. So things are definitely changing for the better ever since the new owners have taken over. Saul (Ruiz de Marco, HRT F1 CEO) has a very good approach to what F1 should be, by applying his entrepreneurship experience to the team and I’m sure that it will lead to better things. Everyone knows it is impossible to change things in F1 overnight but we have certainly taken strides in the right direction.

    Q: How would you define yourself as a driver?

    NK: One thing’s for sure – I never give up. I’m here, against all odds and expectations, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I have worked incredibly hard, I believe in my ability and know that I am as quick as anyone else out there.

    Q: What do you know about and what would you highlight about your teammate Pedro de la Rosa?

    NK: My first ever test was with Jaguar in 2001 and I remember Pedro was the team driver at the time. Even though I don’t know him very well, I know that he’s very experienced and from what I’ve seen, has a pleasant personality. We should be getting on well – it is not about trying to beat each other but working harmoniously to help the team progress as a whole. Healthy competition will collectively allow us to get the maximum out of the car and fast-forward the development process.

    He has a vast amount of developmental experience with a front-running team – so it’ll count a lot for the team in terms of approaching things and making the most out of our resources.

    Q: What do you think you can contribute to the team this year?

    NK: I am going to push as hard as possible, both inside and outside the cockpit and do whatever it takes to help the team progress in its rejuvenated form. Continuity is important in Formula 1 so I’m sure we’ll hit the ground running this year starting with some actual pre-season testing unlike last season where I first drove the new car on the opening race weekend in Australia. So there is all the incentive for me to ensure that I carry the team forward by delivering results and ensuring that nothing is left on the table as far as performance is concerned.

    Q: Coming from a country with not much motorsport tradition, what led you to pursue the dream of making it to Formula 1?

    NK: Ever since I started my racing career, I had just one goal in mind – Formula 1. It was definitely an unconventional dream to have, considering we had very little by the way of motorsport in India. Understandably, at the time I failed to realise what an uphill task it was. A more concrete picture emerged when I started racing in Europe, and it was during that time I came to terms with the harsh realities in earnest. We didn’t know the right steps to get to F1, but several setbacks made my resolve only stronger and my perseverance ultimately paid off when I made my debut in 2005.

    Q: Last year you made history by becoming the first Indian driver ever to race at the Indian GP. What dreams do you have left to fulfill?

    NK: For me, Formula 1 is a continued dream, it is always ultra-competitive and competing at the pinnacle of the sport is what I love. So I am very happy to have the opportunity to continue living my dream and I have every intention to make the best out of it.

     

    ends

  • Sahara Force India unveils VJM05, the 2012 F1 car

    Sahara Force India’s new challenger, the VJM05, was unveiled on Friday morning (2.30pm IST) at Silverstone circuit as team’s drivers Paul Di Resta and Hulkenberg removed the black covers off a stunning car that had the name `Sahara’ visible prominently in tune with the new co-owner of the team.

    After the car was unveiled, the two drivers Paul and Hulkenberg posed for pictures with recently-named reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

    Force India F1 Team did well to finish the 2011 season in the 6th place and is one of the precocious new generation of highly competitive regular points-scoring teams competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

    The VJM05 is the second car to be created under the watch of Technical Director, Andrew Green, as the team seeks to build on its on its sixth place finish in the constructors’ championship and take the fight to the teams that lie ahead.
    “We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place,” explained Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr. Vijay Mallya. “To do so we will need to begin the new campaign by delivering the kind of form we showed in the second half of 2011. I believe this is a realistic goal and that we have the talent and determination to realise these ambitions.”
    Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed those sentiments as he praised the team’s efforts to develop the VJM05: “The new car has come together nicely over the winter. We don’t know what our competitors have done, but we’ve made some gains over the winter and believe we’re in reasonable shape. It’s going to be difficult in the midfield, but our focus is on starting strongly and improving our position from last season.”
    Summing up the approach to 2012, Andrew Green added: “The car looks more refined; a lot racier and a lot more purposeful. You can start to see the aerodynamic concepts coming through now. It looks quite a bit different to the previous years, and so far the performance in the tunnel has been encouraging.”
    The drivers were delighted to get their first glimpse of the new car and set out their hopes for the season ahead:
    Paul Di Resta: “Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment. It’s when you realise that all the waiting is finally over and the season is beginning for real. I’ve had a good winter and I’ve recharged my batteries, but now I’m fully focussed on 2012 and looking forward to the start of testing. There’s a really positive feeling in the team, good stability and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the end of last year.”
    Nico Hulkenberg: “I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter. It looks aggressive and fast, but we won’t know where we stand until we get out there and compete against the others. Preparations for the new season have been full-on with simulator sessions and lots of fitness training. I feel ready to get back to racing and I’m excited to find out what the new car feels like next week.”
    Once again the Sahara Force India cars will be powered by the Mercedes engines with gearbox supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies. This will be the second season with the Mercedes KERS.
    Jules Bianchi (France) with Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) and Paul di Resta (Great Briton) with VJM05 –

    It’s a remarkable step forward for the tight-knit, small outfit that was created in 2007 after Orange India Holdings group, led by Dr Vijay Mallya and Jan and Michiel Mol, purchased the Silverstone based Spyker. A solid long-term plan, strong management and an insatiable hunger has enabled the crack team to move solidly up the order and moved from the back of the grid to sixth in the constructers championship in 2011. A dynamic team able to qualify and run in the top ten and give the frontrunners more than a little to worry about.

    The statistics bear witness: in 2009 it secured its debut pole, podium and fastest lap, in 2010 it was seventh in the championship with 68 points, nine top ten starts and 15 points scoring finishes: a consolidation of that early promise. Given the size and resources of the team, such a performance is even more remarkable.

    The team’s form is the crystallisation of the vision of owners Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, and Jan & Michiel Mol, Dutch e-commerce businessmen, laid down when they created the team in the final months of the 2007 season. The trio purchased the team from Spyker Cars N.V and for the 2008 team it was renamed Force India with its dynamic name and patriotic logo incorporating the colours of the Indian flag.

    The team is now a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, success-hungry, fast paced global Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation.

  • Can McLaren’s `beauty’, MP4-27 get them the speed?

    Woking (UK), Feb 1, 2012: The new MP4-27 was launched worldwide, online through the team website and facebook at 4.30pm India time today, and the car similar to its two previous editions sported a beautiful look but only time will tell if it can provide the speed and efficiency as the season unfolds for the team to mount a challenge to Red Bull with two world champions as drivers line-up.

    “The continuation of our double world-champion driver line-up, further consolidation of our championship-winning engineering team and a subtle, yet deep-reaching technical update of our car all underpin the world-class strength, experience and ambition that exists at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team ahead of the 2012 FIA Formula 1 World Championship,” said a Vodafone McLaaren Mercedes release.

    On Wednesday morning (4.30 pm IST) a technical presentation of the MP4-27 at the McLaren Technology Centre showcased a natural evolution of last year’s six-race-winning car and underlined the message that the new season is very much one of growth through strength and continuity. After finishing second in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2011, our aim for the new season is to fight for both world titles from the very start of this year’s campaign.

    Evolutionary design of MP4-27 masks overhaul of all major systems. While the all-new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-27 closely resembles last year’s multiple race-winning car, the 2012 chassis has been substantially revised from the ground-up, with all major systems updated or re-designed for the new season.

    The most evident visual differences include more tightly-waisted rear bodywork, developed to improve flow to the rear of the car, and a revised cooling system, which re-directs the gearbox oil-cooler. Last year’s U-shaped sidepods have also been re-designed – a legacy of the FIA’s new exhaust regulations that redefine the shape of the rear bodywork.

    Best driver line-up in Formula 1 retained for third successive season

    Maintaining the belief in the validity of strengthened continuity, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is the only team in Formula 1 whose driver line-up consists of two world champions: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.  Between them, they have scored 22 grand prix victories for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and are the strongest and most consistent driver line-up in the sport. Maintaining the partnership into a third successive season was merely a formality.

    Strength drawn from consolidation of engineering and race teams.

    On the technical front, our exemplary engineering trio Tim Goss (director of engineering), Paddy Lowe (technical director) and Neil Oatley (director of design and development programmes) once more remain at the forefront of the drawing office. For 2012, they will be joined by sporting director Sam Michael, whose arrival coincides with the re-organisation of our trackside personnel roster to ensure both growth and development within the group.

    Off-track: the most complete team in Formula 1

    Away from the track, the team continues to develop, too: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes last year became the world’s first carbon-neutral Formula 1 team, efficiently managing its carbon footprint and purchasing carbon credits to completely offset its emissions.  As well as continuing relationships of record-breaking length with partners such as Hugo Boss (31 years), TAG Heuer (27 years), Kenwood (22 years), ExxonMobil (18 years), Mercedes-Benz (18 years), Hilton (eight years) and Vodafone (six years), our new strategic partnership with GlaxoSmithKline continues to gather pace. Development and planning continue on the McLaren GSK Centre for Applied Performance, while GSK’s Lucozade scientists are busy developing a groundbreaking cockpit drinks formula to hydrate our drivers during grands prix in 2012.

    Finally, in a year when the world’s spotlight will shine on London and the 2012 Olympics, we’re proud that equipment and technology pioneered at the racetrack by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and developed by McLaren Applied Technologies will be used by Team GB’s athletes in their quest for Gold this summer.

    Following a one-day private shakedown, Jenson will  begin track testing of the MP4-27 at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez on Tuesday February 7.

  • Sahara Force India names Jules Bianchi as reserve driver for 2012

    27 Jan 2012:Sahara Force India is pleased to announce that Jules Bianchi has joined the team as its reserve driver for the 2012 season, according to a Force India Press Release today.

    Jules Bianchi
    The 22-year-old Frenchman will be integrated in the team’s programme and will participate in a minimum of nine Friday practice sessions during Grand Prix weekends. In preparation for the 2012 season, Jules will get his first run in the VJM05 during pre-season testing next month.
    The appointment sees Sahara Force India continue its tradition of investing in young drivers and developing their skills by giving them time in the car.
    Jules Bianchi: “I’m obviously excited to join Sahara Force India and the chance to get track time during race weekends is an important step for me. Being regularly in a current car is the best way to learn quickly and I hope it will put me in a strong position to one day move into a race seat. The next few months will be really exciting as I get to know the team, see how they work, and prepare for my time in the car. I would like to thank everyone for believing in me and especially Sahara Force India for giving me this great opportunity.”
    Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “I am delighted to welcome Jules into the Sahara Force India family. We always keep an eye on young, talented drivers and his performance in GP2 certainly impressed us all. By giving Jules the opportunity to be part of our 2012 campaign, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to young drivers. We are proud of our track record in this regard and I have no doubt that Jules will quickly settle into the team and make a valuable contribution to our efforts on track this season.”

  • Marussia F1 team ties up with `Sage’

    Charles Pic

    Banbury (UK), 27 Jan 2012: The Marussia F1 Team is pleased to begin the new year with the announcement of a brand new partnership with Sage, a global market leader in business software, said a Press Release from Marussia F1 team on Friday.

    Sage is the third largest Enterprise Resourcing Planning (ERP) provider to business worldwide, with some 6.2 million companies using Sage products and services across 100 countries.

    In the UK over 11,000 businesses use Sage’s ERP software, and the Marussia F1 Team is the latest addition following the rollout of Sage’s ERP X3 system at the team’s new Technical Centre in Banbury, UK. This system brings every part of the business together in one powerful, easy to use and quick to deploy solution.

    The global business is decentralised and the company’s success has been built on understanding ‘local’ markets, empowering ‘local’ leaders, developing ‘local’ products for ‘local’ customers, and supporting them ‘locally’.

    Marussia F1 Team has already begun the integration of an effective factory management solution that will track the team’s race car parts all the way through the entire process from their conception to the racetrack.

    Andy Webb, CEO, Marussia F1 Team
    “We are pleased to welcome Sage on board at such an exciting time for us, as we prepare for the start of a new Formula One season at the Marussia Technical Centre in Banbury. The new software solution we have developed with Sage will enable us to achieve improved time-critical control of the 3,500 parts that will be used to manufacture each of our race cars. This is all part of our drive towards the enhanced integration of all aspects of our business in pursuit of our long-term ambitions within the Championship.”

    Bob Anderson, General Manager, Sage’s Enterprise Business
    “At Sage, we’re hugely passionate about helping our customers to drive new levels of business success and are confident that our Sage ERP X3 solution will do just that for the Marussia F1 Team. We wish them every success as the 2012 season gets underway and are confident that our software will help them to achieve new levels of speed and efficiency both on and off the track.”

    Ends