Force India driver Adrian Sutil is hopeful they can build upon an impressive 2009 season with their new VJM03 chassis.
German hopes to be competitive throughout 2010 with VJM03
Force India driver Adrian Sutil is hopeful the team can build upon an impressive 2009 season with their new VJM03 car, which was unveiled on Tuesday.
The Silverstone-based team scored their first points last season when Giancarlo Fisichella finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix having taken pole position.
Sutil himself qualified on the front row for the Italian Grand Prix before finishing fourth at Monza and is hoping the momentum can be sustained in 2010.
"My aim for this season is to be competitive throughout the season," the German told the team's website.
"We want to start strong and we want to end up strong.
"When (team owner) Vijay (Mallya) joined the team and bought the team that was the point where everything went in the right direction.
"Last year was the first real Force India year and it was already very successful.
"This winter was the best winter so far because the car could go through the development without any problems, the structures are clear in the team, so we are absolutely ready to race."
Sutil added: "I hope we will have a good season and I am pretty confident we will.
"We have had a good winter and a very good development programme so expectations are high.
"The car looks great, we did a positive step with the wind tunnel simulations but let's test and see where we are."
Evolution
Although the car is similar to last year's, it is significantly larger owing to the larger fuel tank necessitated by the incoming refuelling ban.
Design director Mark Smith said: "The VJM03 is definitely an evolution of the VJM02. In terms of the design philosophies that we've developed over the past year or two, we're quite happy with the direction that they're taking us so therefore we've opted to evolve the car."
Force India will join their rivals at Jerez on Wednesday for the start of the three-day test.
Mallya, who took over the team at the end of 2007, added: "I don't think I am being over-proud when I say 2009 was an exceptional year for us. The bare statistics say it all: one podium, one pole position, one fastest lap, a further five top 10 starts and 13 points.
"We've learnt from our experiences and we've come out a better team: resilient, resourceful and now resurgent. I hope 2010 will see this great progress carrying forward."
Sutil will be partnered by Vitantonio Liuzzi during 2010 with Britain's Paul di Resta serving as the team's test and reserve driver.
