Force India to put best foot forward in ‘home circuit’

“It will be a special race for the Force India Formula One Team. With the history and heritage of this team and its location just opposite the main gates of the circuit, it’s obviously considered by the team as its home race,” said Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director of the team.

“We’re moving forward, that’s for sure, and step by step improving, but I really want everyone to feel proud of where we are and what we have achieved. It’s this race in particular that really fires everyone up, let’s put this energy into a great performance in front of our ‘home’ crowd,” Mallya said.

As part of its preparation for the home race, the team debuted major new aero and mechanical package and with the developments looking positive, Force India is hoping for an improved finish in the ninth round of the 18-round series.

And the men who would be entrusted with the job of translating the effort into result, also made all the right noise.

Force India’s Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella is deriving inspiration from the French GP and says he has a particular liking for the track here.

“I’ve always enjoyed and done well at Silverstone. Even though it’s not a particularly distinctive track it’s very technical so you need a good driving rhythm, good pace, good balance and constant levels of grip. I also like the atmosphere there as the fans are very enthusiastic, particularly for any British team,” Fisichella said.

Though the Roman had an accident in the three-day test at the same circuit ahead of the British GP, Fisichella assured there is nothing to worry.

“I’m not feeling any ill effects from the accident: it really looked worse than it was, I only wish I had remembered to take my hands of the wheel so it would have spared me the trip to hospital,” he said.

His younger teammate Adrian Sutil also shares his liking for the track and said, “It’s good to be at a circuit you really know well and you are comfortable at. We test here a lot and of course the factory is so close, it’s like our home race. Personally I like the track, it’s quite challenging and really one of my favourites. The atmosphere is great too, and with all the Lewis (Hamilton) fans it should be a fantastic race.

“My target for this race would be to get everything working well and hopefully being in a position where we could race and pass some cars. In Magny-Cours we were quite close, especially on my middle stint where the lap times were good, but we just need that little bit more to be able to get ahead of some others,” said the German.