Force India owner Dr Vijay Mallya has responded to comments made by A1GP promoter Tony Teixeira suggesting the team are sending out the wrong message to India’s growing number of motorsport fans.
In an interview, Teixeira suggested that Force India’s relative lack of success this season - and their decision to hold off on running an Indian driver - was not promoting a winning mentality among young Indians.
“I am amused by the comments of Mr Teixeira, promoter of the A1GP series, on how Indians should view motorsport in general and Force India’s participation in the FIA Formula One World Championship in particular,” said Mallya.
“Mr Teixeira is better advised to comment on his native South Africa and his self-styled World Cup of Motorsport that is nothing more than a standard single-seater series.
“Trying to reach out to India’s youth by encouraging participation in and the temption of winning a title in a series that does not even begin to compare with GP2 or F1 is just promoting mediocrity amongst young Indians who aspire to be world class. This, indeed, is a wrong message which seems to be an act of desperation given the huge and growing support for Formula One and the Force India Formula One team.
“I am sure that Indians could win so-called world titles at B or C-grade levels of any sport quite easily, but competing at the very highest international level is not only a matter of pride but proves a nation’s ability to participate and do so.
“As far as Mr Teixeira’s comments on how the Ferrari association with the A1GP series will stimulate interest, perhaps I should remind him that Force India F1 cars are also powered by Ferrari engines.
“As the head of the Indian National Motorsport Federation, I am also perfectly aware not only of the interest but also participation in motorsport over the past 25 years. It is inappropriate for Mr Teixeira to say that India is not a motorsporting nation. Perhaps, the number of Indian motorsport enthusiasts will exceed the population of many countries that Mr Teixeira is familiar with.
“Finally, I have committed that Force India will identify and groom an Indian driver to eventually participate in F1 through national and international karting and GP2. I hope to achieve this over a period of five years.
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