Force India cash boostposted in F113 | 10 | 2011
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA has welcomed the $100 million investment which has been pumped into his Force India Formula One team.
The deal, which sees Indian sports promoter Subrata Roy's Sahara India Pariwar take a 42.5% share in the Silverstone-based team, was announced today in New Delhi. The inaugural Indian Grand Prix takes place in just three weeks.
Sahara, which sponsors the Indian cricket team and owns the Indian Premier League side, Bangalore Royal Challengers, will join current team owner Vijay Mallya, who also owns a 42.5% share. The remaining 15% belongs to the Mol family.
The commitment by Sahara to pump millions into the newly renamed Sahara Force India team, highlights the growing significance of F1 in India.
It also strengthens Di Resta's position within the sport.
Force India has improved dramatically this year, both in terms of pace and reliability, and the new investment will accelerate further advances through 2012 and beyond.
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Through its technical partnership with McLaren, allied to its supply of Mercedes engines, the team is targeting fifth place in the constructors' championship this season.
Fuelled by the new level of investment, the team is now in a position to retain the services of Di Resta. The Scot, who has impressed everyone on the F1 grid with his performances in his rookie season, is known to be on the 'wishlist' of a number of leading teams.
At the announcement of the deal, Mallya — who has previously said he will confirm his 2012 driver line-up in December — gave the strongest hint that he will hold on to Di Resta.
"I am happy with the current lot of drivers that we have got," Mallya, who has pledged to have an Indian driver in his team in the future, said. "The current Indian drivers don't suit me.
"The more important thing is that we have got an Indian team on the grid, and I am really proud of that.
"It has been a matter of pride for me to put India on the F1 map with Force India and raise the performance of the team to its current levels."
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Mallya will continue in his current role as team principal with Subrata Roy becoming chairman.
And Di Resta, who has recovered from the croaky throat which hampered him during last weekend's Japan Grand Prix, welcomed the latest developments.
"What has happened is a great thing for Force India, to have that investment coming in," the Scot, who has so far scored 20 points this season, said.
"As Vijay recently said, his team is becoming what he wants it to be now. I'm sure it will continue on an upward slope.
"At this point I don't know how the structure will work within the team. I understand Vijay will remain team principal, and he's the one who has guided this team to what it is, so you have to give him credit for that, and hopefully it will continue that way.
"I'm sure in the background things will change, but that's not a decision we're going to get brought into."
Meanwhile, Sahara boss Roy welcomed the multi-million pound deal which he believes will bring further success to both the team, its drivers, and India
"India is reaching new heights in all spheres, including sports," he said. "F1 has always remained a bastion of the western world. The advent of India in this exciting sport has remained a matter of pride for all our countrymen.
"The Sahara Group has played a very important role in the development of sport in the country and is an ideal partner to take the Force India F1 Team to greater success in the Formula 1 World Championship."
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Jim McGill