Force India VJM08 – first impressions on the new car

    Force India was actually the first team to launch its 2015 contender, the VJM08 on 21/01/2015. The most eye-catching points on the new car are a brand new livery and the shorter “finger” nose. However the car silhouette in general and rest characteristics feature in-depth resemblance to last season’s VJM07. Mercedes continues to power the new chassis for one more season. Without doubt Mercedes proved to be the best engine by far in 2014, not only in terms of top power but also in reliability, torque and even fuel consumption.

   Starting from livery it is obvious that orange, silver and mainly black dominate on the car, while green and white are now vanished. The new colour combination brings in memory the blacked – orange Arrow cars back in 2000, with silver addition. New sponsorship logos are also visible on the chassis, advertising several new commercial partners.

  Some key points on the new car are presented below

1.Nose: New rules allowed to construct a lower nose cone with shorter and better viewing “finger” tip extension.

2. Multi element nose vanes, very similar to late 2014 season version.

3:The front suspension remains push rod while the steering axis is placed between the up and lower wishbone.

4.Wheel rims: great effort and progress made over last season on the way rims fix on the car in an attempt to both reduce pit stop time and improve safety

5. twin bargeboards, the larger inner one is wavy and has a cut. Both bargeboards and sidepod panels are copied directly from late last season

Sidepods remain elegant and very sculpted at bottoms. According to team the new car has rearranged internal packaging .

6. Airbox main inlet remains triangular, there is also two additional inlets, one behind the main one and another below and behind the driver’s helmet. The whole structure is strengthened via two pylons and looks identical to 2014 VJM07

7.Floor arrangement in front of the rear wheel is alike to the one seen on VJM07 late in 2014 season
Rear suspension remains pull rod and according to the team a hydro-mechanical system replaced the original torsion springs.

8.Paradoxically a beam wing is visible on VJM08 but it should be absent as it is banned since 2014

 Conclusion

  Force India rushed to launch first its new car in an attempt to attract the lights on. Therefore, judging by what the VJM08  looks like, we jump onto two conclusions, whether it is actually a new car or an “immature” version of it. Great resemblance to VJM08 and the appearance of  beam wing, an element should be absent since 2014, leaves both possibilities open. In any case the team buys precious time to further develop its 2015 contender, gaining in the same time enough exposure to its commercial partners . One thing is though certain, the car that will compete in season opening race in Melbourne will significantly differ.