Force India to get 50 mn pound investment boost

Sao Paulo, Nov 22 (IANS) Sahara Force India team principal Vijay Mallya has announced that 50 million pounds will be invested into the team for an improved performance in the 2013 Formula One season.

“Force India going to the final race of the 2012 here over the weekend, lying seventh in the team standings with 99 points. It is team’s best ever show in terms of points scored and includes fourth place finishes in Belgium and Singapore,” Mallya was quoted as saying by formula1.com Wednesday.

“We have shown that every year we get better, so we expect nothing less next season. But it is also time for us to look at capital investment (the board has recently approved a £50 million capital investment programme for the team). In order to go up the ladder even further we need to have the tools and the facilities, so we are looking at some investments which will start paying out rich dividends in the future,” Mallya said.

Mallya also conceded that they were finding it tough to find a suitable replacement for outgoing driver Nico Hulkenberg, who will be with Sauber in 2013. The other Force India driver Paul di Resta is likely to stay with the team.

“There does not seem to be the kind of quality we need to replace Nico available, either in the current grid or in GP2. We have to think a little bit beyond that, which we are doing now,” he said adding that he was considering getting back Adrian Sutil.

IANS 2012-11-22 18:48:20