Formula 1

Grand Prix Collection expanding at Donington Park

1 Mins read
Credit: Donington Park

Donington Park has expanded its Grand Prix Collection this month after welcoming a selection of new exhibits.

Two new additions come from Sahara Force India, the first of which is the famous VJM02 that was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella in 2009 to their first ever podium at the Spa Francorchamps, the car competed thirteen of the seventeen races held that year.

When Fisichella qualified for the Belgian Grand Prix on pole position it provided one of the shocks of the decade. The Italian finished just under a second behind the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen, marking the Silverstone-based outfit’s first podium.

The second car is their VJM04 that was driven by Scotsman Paul di Resta in 2011. The car competed in all nineteen races, with a best finish of sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Di Resta finished the 2011 Driver’s Championship in thirteenth, while the team finished the Constructors’ Championship in sixth, their best championship result up to that date.

These arrivals join the four Force Indias already on display at Donington – a 2008 original model, another 2009 car that Adrian Sutil secured fourth place at Monza, a 2010 car which competed in all 19 races with a best result of fifth with Sutil and another 2011 car which secured Sutil a best result of sixth at the Nurburgring and at Interlagos.

Force India are a continuation of the Jordan squad who first competed in F1 in 1991. It was in 2004 when Jordan was sold to Russian investors, becoming Midland F1 in 2006. Towards the end of the year Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker purchased the team, and the team raced as Spyker for the 2007 season before changing to Force India for 2008.

The collection of the 2004 Jordan, the 2006 Midland and the large selection of Force Indias provides a unique record of the team’s transitional period, becoming the team we now know them as.

Related posts
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Drivers Said after Qualifying – Part 2

5 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag looks at what the lower half of the grid from qualifying had to say ahead of the grand prix on Sunday.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Drivers Said after Qualifying – Part 1

5 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag looks at what the top ten drivers from qualifying had to say ahead of the grand prix on Sunday.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix - What Happened in Qualifying?

2 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag looks back at qualifying from the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.