Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has brewed a heady concoction that is bound to give the rapidly increasing pool of speed junkies in the country an adrenaline rush.
Vijay Mallya says name India could feature in rechristened Spyker-Ferrari team
MUMBAI: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has brewed a heady concoction that is bound to give the rapidly increasing pool of speed junkies in the country an adrenaline rush. Mallya has snuggled into the cockpit of the Spyker Ferrari F1 team.
On board as chairman and managing director of Orange India Holdings, that has bought a 100 per cent stake worth 90 million Euros in the lower-end team, Mallya promised to drive 'modern, youthful' India into the Formula One circus.
"Team India is on the F1 grid," he declared proudly. "I would like to say that it would give me immense pleasure to see an Indian drive an Indian Formula One car, but we have to consult with team principal and chief technical officer, Mallya said, igniting hopes of the Narain Karthikeyans and Karun Chandhoks of the country.
"As of today I won't be able to commit whether Spyker Ferrari will continue to maintain the same name or not next season. What the name the new team will race under is subject to approval of other teams and the F1 management," he added.
However INDIA could well be etched on the Ferrari-powered car from next season. "I would certainly have the word India on the team," Mallya said betraying that, in spite of the on-going negotiations, he was confident of putting the country's name on the F1 map.
"I hope this makes millions of Indians to feel proud and feel excited and follow F1 even more. It will be a step in the right direction and is a reflection of the growing affluence of our country," he added. The deal was done at 2 am in the morning and Mallya was confident that it would fast-track the process of India hosting an F1 race.
"This investment is a demonstration of my faith in Formula One in India. It goes without saying that I am extremely confident we will be able to hold F1 race in 2009 or by 2010," Mallya who has been associated with F1 over the past 11 years, said. With regard to the team, Mallya said that he has set realistic targets.
There are only five races left in 2007 championship. I don't think we will be able to make any impact in 2007. But we will start to become competitive and earn points in the 2008. But don't expect any miracles in 2008."
The opportunity to buy the Spyker team came at the Monaco Grand Prix, but it was at Istanbul that Mallya felt that there was the chance for an investor to go in an acquire the team. Michiel Mol's (the former director of F1 at Spyker) family and Mallya have a 50 per cent stake each.
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