VJM01 makes track debut in Barcelona
 Today
in Barcelona, the Force India Formula One Team's new 2008
FIA Formula One World Championship challenger, the VJM01,
will make its track debut.
The VJM01, a name in tribute to the team's owners, Dr. Vijay
Mallya and Jan and Michiel Mol, is based on the B-spec F8-VII
that Force India's predecessor, the Spyker Formula One Team,
launched at the 2007 Italian Grand Prix. Developed throughout
the year at its UK base and wind tunnels in Brackley, UK,
and Aerolab, Italy, the B-spec represented a significant step
forward for the small Silverstone-based team, with optimised
mechanical and aerodynamic packages.
This year's challenger is an evolution of this development,
as Force India chief technical officer, Mike Gascoyne explains:
'The 2008 car is based on the B-spec car we introduced at
the end of last year. We have carried the chassis over from
2007 to 2008, but the car we run at the Australian Grand Prix
will have numerous aerodynamic and mechanical updates, which
we will be testing from 25 - 27 February at Barcelona before
the first race.
'Aerodynamically, there has been a complete rework of the
car. With our two wind tunnels in Brackley and Italy now operating
full time, we have been able to make a lot of progress in
the aero department, so almost every aero feature on the car
will have been revised. The car we race with in Melbourne
however will just be the start of a continuous cycle of aerodynamic
improvement over the season.'
Mechanically, as well as aerodynamically, the chassis has
also been updated. Last season the rear suspension geometry
was significantly revised, with the rotary dampers replaced
with linear ones, and a new gearbox design targeted at complying
with the new 2008 gearbox rules where each 'box must be used
for four races. The engine installation was also reviewed
to make cooling resources lighter, more compact and much more
efficient.
Gascoyne explains the VJM01 will be yet another step forward.
'We are looking at significant improvements in the rear suspension
and also some systems to improve reliability from last year.
The B-spec gearbox we introduced was always aimed at four
races, and obviously we had the benefit of testing it at the
final races of the year. We've now run many miles on that
gearbox and we are very confident that we are very reliable
in this area for 2008.
'We have also carried over the engine installation and radiator
package, but again have made detailed improvements and incorporated
some lighter parts. In some respects we have been able to
make bigger improvements by changing fewer parts on the car,
which has enabled us to focus more resources on key areas.'
The development in these key areas has largely been facilitated
by a significant restructure of Force India's technical department
at the end of 2007. Mark Smith, a veteran of Jordan Grand
Prix, Renault and Red Bull, joined the team as design director
working under the direction of Gascoyne and alongside technical
director James Key. In this role, Smith took responsibility
for the day to day running of the drawing office and all race
car design, freeing Key up to focus on research and development,
vehicle science and development projects for the 2009 and
subsequent seasons' cars.
'Obviously as Force India, we have expanded our workforce,'
adds Gascoyne, 'and we have had significant new staff come
on board in Mark Smith and also Ian Hall, who worked with
the team in its Jordan days. Ian will be a project leader
for the 2009 car, which means we have also been able to promote
Akio Haga, who was formerly head of mechanical design, to
the position of project leader for the 2008 car. It's given
us a lot more structure, which makes us more dynamic and prepared
to action development plans. I believe that with Mark and
James at a senior level, a strong support staff, additional
resources and experience, we will see a strong impact on the
2008 car and beyond.'
The new VJM01 will test for the first time today at the Barcelona
test, just two weeks before the first race of the season.
Gascoyne does not believe this will be a disadvantage, as
the team has completed some strong work over the winter. 'We've
been testing new parts and looking at reliability,' Gascoyne
continues. 'It's just one update we have coming along for
the last test and it will be mostly aerodynamic and will have
no real impact on reliability. I am not worried that we are
just testing them for the first time a very short while before
the season as this has been done to give us the maximum time
possible in the wind tunnel.
'Over the winter we have really been working with the new
drivers, and we've certainly shown a new level of competitiveness,
which is something that will benefit us going forward. There
has been a lot of work going on in the background and we should
look to go to Australia and be very reliable, especially in
the first few races and pick up whatever we can.
'Last year was very frustrating, but now we are in a position
to move forward from a much more competitive baseline. Certainly
you will see that with the new development we should look
to racing properly with the midfield as soon as possible.'
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