The Force India VJM04 is a Formula One racing car developed by Force India for the 2011 Formula One season, the fourth car the team has made since entering the sport in 2008. The car was driven by long-time Force India driver Adrian Sutil and 2010 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion Paul di Resta. The car was launched online on 8 February 2011.[1]

Force India VJM04
Paul di Resta driving the VJM04 at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorForce India
Designer(s)Mark Smith (Technical Director)
Andrew Green (Engineering Director)
Ian Hall (Chief Designer)
Bruce Eddington (Chief Engineer, Composites)
Dan Carpenter (Chief Engineer, Mechanical Design)
Simon Gardner (Head of R&D)
James Knapton (Head of Vehicle Science)
Simon Phillips (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorForce India VJM03
SuccessorForce India VJM05
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti-intrusion panels
Suspension (front)Aluminium uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly
Suspension (rear)as front, except for trackrod and pullrod, and gearbox mounted torsion springs.
EngineMercedes-Benz FO 108Y 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted
TransmissionMcLaren Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear, Electronic shift system
Weight640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
FuelMobil
TyresPirelli P Zero
BBS Wheels (front and rear): 13"
Competition history
Notable entrantsForce India F1 Team
Notable drivers14. Germany Adrian Sutil
15. United Kingdom Paul di Resta
Debut2011 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2011 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
190000

Adrian Sutil edit

Sutil scored ninth in the first race of the season in Australia after the Saubers were disqualified. He failed to score until the race in Monaco where at one point, he was running fourth. However, on lap 72, contact with Pastor Maldonado and the wall triggered an incident in which Jaime Alguersuari and Vitaly Petrov crashed and the race was red-flagged. After the restart, Sutil eventually finished seventh. In Canada he suffered a drive-through penalty before retiring as a result of accident damage.

Paul di Resta edit

Di Resta scored points in his first and second Grands Prix in Australia and Malaysia whilst in China he qualified a career best eighth but failed to finish in the points. Turkey saw his first non-finish whilst Spain and Monaco brought no points. In Canada, he was running fifth at one point but ran into the back of Nick Heidfeld at the final chicane, breaking his front wing before receiving a drive-through penalty. He then crashed out of the race with a mistake in the wet conditions.

 
Adrian Sutil during the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix

Complete Formula One results edit

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Points WCC
2011 Force India F1 Team Mercedes FO 108Y V8 P AUS MAL CHN TUR ESP MON CAN EUR GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN KOR IND ABU BRA 69 6th
Sutil 9 11 15 13 13 7 Ret 9 11 6 14 7 Ret 8 11 11 9 8 6
Di Resta 10 10 11 Ret 12 12 18 14 15 13 7 11 8 6 12 10 13 9 8

Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed >90% of the race distance.

References edit

  1. ^ "Online launch for Force India's 2011 car". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.

External links edit