Force India aims to pick "One from a Billion" with driver search program

[Haltech]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, India

Karun Chandhok and Vijay Mallya

Just a few years ago, India would not have ranked among the countries you'd commonly associate with Formula One racing. Today, however, the nation has its own F1 team in Force India, has bred two F1 drivers in Karun Chandhok (pictured above at left) and Narain Kathikeyan, and will host its first grand prix this year. Despite all this, Force India chief, Vijay Mallya (above at right), thinks his home country still has more to offer the world of motorsports, so he's launched the Force India F1 Team Academy.

The initiative aims to find and foster the top talent in a "hunt for 1 from a billion". Beginning with subsidized karting events, the program will select the fastest teenagers (between ages 14 and 17) for the national finals. The top ten finishers will be sent to England for a week-long training program at Silverstone. Three finalists will be announced in October at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, with one winner receiving full sponsorship to race in the UK for a season.

Of course, Force India isn't the only team to support such a program. Ferrari's Driver Academy is in full swing, Red Bull has one of the most advanced talent search programs in the world, and Renault supports an advanced driver training program as well. Follow the jump for the press release or head over to onefromabillion.com for more information.

[Source: Force India]Continue reading Force India aims to pick "One from a Billion" with driver search program

Force India aims to pick "One from a Billion" with driver search program originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments





More...