Spyker have been granted permission by the FIA to change their name to Force India. The team, bought by Vijay Mallya in partnership with Mol family for £61m will race under the new name complementing its logo in the colors of Indian Flag from next season. Spyker had paid £51m to Midland F1 outfit in 2006 but could not make an impact in this season’s championship winning just one constructor’s point in Japanese GP.
Spyker team made a loss of £9m in the first half of the year and perhaps this forced its owners to make a decision to sell the team.
Mallaya also known as King of good times is the chairman of UB Group, which has beer spirits and airlines operations in India.
With him in charge, there were rumors that Indian driver Narian Karthikeyan, who is currently a test driver for Williams could come into the team but Mallya put these speculations to rest in an interview, which he gave after Chinese GP in which he said:
I always get asked if we will have an Indian driver and my response is - if I can find one who is ready, yes. But only under the parameters just said. Drivers are a crucial part of the team so the driver line-up is a serious matter and not a sympathy contest.
When he was questioned that India should be a part of team name he replied:
It is my vision that India is part of the name, yes. What it will be in the end is not decided yet so everybody will have to wait. The name is an integral part of the team identity. Everybody will have to be a little more patient.
Clearly things went his way as far as name of team is concerned, but will the rechristened team be able to make any difference to constructors tally remains to be seen.
India is set to host an F1 race in 2010 following a deal between Indian Olympic Association and Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Via:Bbc
