(Sahara Force India Formula One Team)
The Sahara Force India Formula One Team head to the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) circuit in Sao Paulo following an extremely difficult weekend for the Silverstone based outfit last time out at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas as both Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez retired from the race.
Nico Hulkenberg suffered a power unit failure and was told by the team to stop the car. The German heads to the Brazilian Grand Prix having scored points in all but three Grand Prix this season and will be hoping to bring the team a good haul of points this weekend having failed to score points in the last two Grand Prix in Russia and the United States.
The Sahara Force India Formula One team are locked in a battle with McLaren for fifth place in the championship with McLaren holding a 24 point advantage over the Silverstone based outfit with just the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining this season with the final race worth double points. Speaking ahead of the race the German stated:
Brazil is always a highlight of my season and it's one of the events I enjoy the most. If you look at my record at Interlagos it’s a circuit where I have always performed well.
I enjoy the country, the atmosphere, the Brazilian lifestyle and all that surrounds the event seems to have given me a special boost in the past and hopefully it will happen again. Obviously this is a new year and we will need to prepare for this event well: Interlagos can always throw a surprise with the conditions and this could be a challenge for which we need to be ready.
The track itself is a proper old-school circuit: you don't have the vast expanses of more modern tracks, everything is bunched up together - it feels almost like a karting track. It's a very cool layout with some iconic corners, and it has a lot of Formula One history.'
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(Sahara Force India Formula One Team - Nico)
Sergio Perez goes into this weekends race in Brazil with a seven place grid penalty after the FIA race stewards at the Circuit of the Americas found that the Mexican was 'reckless' in causing the accident that took both him and the Sauber F1 Team's Adrian Sutil out of the race on the opening lap of the event.
Perez is currently in eleventh place in the championship equal on points with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and speaking ahead of the race in Brazil this weekend he said:
'Interlagos is a great track and makes for a very enjoyable weekend. The circuit is very rewarding to drive in an F1 car - you can attack in almost every corner and it requires absolute commitment. There are quite a few overtaking points and I have had some special battles there in the past.
You have some very fast corners and a very complex middle sector: there are changes of elevation, cambers and it's very twisty, it's very difficult but it gives you such a great feeling when you get it right.
“Brazil is a great country to race in - the public has a real passion for Formula One and this creates a great atmosphere.
The country has created so many big names in our sport, none more so than Senna: he was fully devoted to racing and was a unique driver and man. You can see his spirit lives on at this track and this is reflected in all the fans in the grandstands.
The other thing I always remember about Interlagos is the traffic - it can be a bit of an adventure to get from the hotel to the circuit but it's all part of the experience!'
(Sahara Force India Formula One Team)
Following his successful practice outing for the team at the British Grand Prix earlier this season the team's official test and reserve driver Spain's Daniel Juncadella will be back in action for the team on Friday morning as he takes to the Interlagos circuit in Sergio Perez's VJM07.
It will be the third time this season that Juncadella will have driven the car and speaking ahead of the outing the Spaniard stated:
'I'm very happy to be given another chance to drive the car this weekend in Brazil. I feel confident after my outings in Silverstone and Italy and I look forward to continue gaining more experience with the team.
The Brazilian track brings back good memories, as I achieved two podium finishes back in 2008 when I raced here at the final two races of the Formula BMW American season, but I can't wait to go back and see what it's like to drive it in an F1 car!
The fact that I know the track and that I'm not new to the team anymore will definitely be two positive elements that will allow me to focus on my driving and on doing the best job possible for the team straight away.
After finishing my DTM season much stronger than we started it, I now look forward to my third FP1 outing and I'd like to thank Sahara Force India for this opportunity.'
© Ben Johnston 2014
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