03/02/2012
NEWS STORY
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Force India has unveiled its 2012 contender, the VJM05, which, like the Ferrari F2012, can hardly be described as pretty.
Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg pulled the covers off the VJM05 at Silverstone, just over the road from the team's HQ, watched by reserve driver, Jules Bianchi.
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 2011 Constructors' Championship and take the fight to the teams ahead.
"We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place," said 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."
"The new car has come together nicely over the winter," added Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer. "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 said: "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."
"Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment," said Paul di Resta. "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."
"I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter," added Nico Hulkenberg. "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."
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