Force India extend McLaren technical partnership
After enjoying their most successful season to date in 2010, Force India have announced an extension of their partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies until the end of the 2012 season. The Silverstone-based team also revealed former director of engineering, Andrew Green, will formally take on the role of technical director with immediate effect.
Green has over 20 years of top-level motor racing experience including F1, F3000 and F3. He commenced his motorsport career in 1987 as a designer with Reynard Cars and was part of the small group of design engineers who started Jordan GP in 1990.
After working his way up the company in positions within test and race engineering, Green joined British American Racing in 1998 as head of mechanical design. After four years he moved on to become head of R&D at Red Bull Technology in 2004 and then joined Force India in July 2010.
“I am very pleased to formally confirm Andrew will step up to become the team's technical director,” said Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal of Force India. “He knows the team inside out, both from his previous tenure with the team and through his position this year. I am also delighted to be able to give Andrew and his team the stability and opportunity to take us forward with the extension to the McLaren Applied Technologies contract.
“The partnership with McLaren and Mercedes has matured into one of the most successful relationships on the grid. In 2009 we scored 13 points, one pole position and one podium and in 2010 we secured our highest-ever championship position and 68 points overall. I've always said I would like to see a Force India on the podium at the Indian GP and I believe we have the resources, both human and technical, to do it.”Since 2009 McLaren have supplied Force Indai with gearboxes and hydraulics, whilst Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines have supplied their V8 engine. Last season this effectively gave Force India the same drivetrain as McLaren, who secured five wins in 2010.
“I'm delighted that we've been able to extend the programme of co-operation between McLaren Applied Technologies and Force India,” added Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal. “Force India has continued to develop as a team during the 2010 season, and to improve year on year its competitive position, and we're pleased that McLaren Applied Technologies has played a key part in that performance.”
Force India ended the 2010 championship seventh in the constructors’ standings after scoring 68 points, just one adrift of sixth-placed Williams.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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