Force India Launches Force India F1 Team Academy

Force India Formula One Team, India ’s first and only F1 team, today announced the launch of the Force India F1 Team Academy- an initiative aimed at identifying racing talent in India and providing vocational and academic training for young Indians aspiring to a serious professional career in motorsports. Commenting on the unveiling of the Academy, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman & Team Principal, Force India Formula One Team said:

“The setting up of the Force India F1 Team Academy is a historic milestone in the sports arena in India especially since it marks the first time ever that anyone has embarked on such an ambitious programme to create a pool of talent and groom aspirants who show exceptional promise by providing them the necessary corporate funding and support backed with a crystal-clear professional career path in motorsport so that one day, they can go on to represent India in the international arena and hopefully bring glory to the nation”.

In the first year, the Academy’s predominant focus will be on unearthing and discovering racing talent while the initiatives in the other two focus areas will be rolled out in a phased manner over the next 12 months. The Force India F1 Team Academy is funded by Force India F1 and supported by its corporate partners. On April 25, 2011, the Academy will launch its first comprehensive initiative, the ‘Hunt for 1 from a Billion, to identify and groom a future racing star from India.

“The Force India F1 Team Academy was conceived with a vision to inspire young Indians who have talent but so far have had no proper opportunity or serious platform to showcase their innate abilities. I hope that this Academy will give young Indians who have the necessary passion and drive, a serious chance to show promise and an opportunity to excel, so that we can then develop their talent and grow it by channelling it properly over the long term. If the Academy is able to place even one Indian on the F1 grid then all the effort would have been well worth it when our national anthem is played out for a victorious graduate of Academy. I would like to thank our partners Exxon Mobil for sharing our  vision and for joining hands with us as we together groom future F1 world champions and support  them on every step of the long and winding journey that will ultimately prepare them for the rigours and demands of F1”, added Dr. Mallya.

The Academy will fully support the winner over the next three years and a career path will be drawn out, depending on the progress made in 2012. The intent is to groom the winner through various stages leading up to a point where the winner is qualified and ready to apply for a super license from the FIA to drive in Formula 1.