Formula 1 News

2009 F1 season: new Force India VJM02 debuts at Jerez 

Force India’s F1 2009 challenger, the VJM02, made its track debut on Sunday at the Jerez circuit in Spain with Italian veteran driver Giancarlo Fisichella at the wheel. The new VJM02 differs radically from its predecessor, the VJM01, as this year’s single-seater, thanks to a new partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, features a Mercedes-Benz V8 engine along with a McLaren gearbox and hydraulic system.

Force India F1 owner, Vijay Mallya, is confident the new VJM02 will be the single seater to bring increased success to his young team after a frustrating points-free debut last year. Dr Mallya’s aspirations are resolutely clear: “I would like to see a strong start, rising to points mid-season and a definite improvement in qualifying,” he explained.

“Regular points finishes should be the aim. This is the year we have to deliver,” he continued. “We are not here to make up the numbers, I want to be pushing all the way.”