Fernley on the Force India’s search for one from a billion

This week the finalists from the Sahara Force India F1 Team Academy evaluations in India will be put through their paces on and off the track at Silverstone. The group of ten will be whittled down to the final three, who will then be given the chance to pursue a career in motor sport – and if possible, make it all the way to F1. We asked Sahara Force India Deputy Team Principal, Bob Fernley to explain how the programme will work

What is the aim of the Sahara Force India F1 Team Academy?

“The key aim is to identify and nurture Indian racing talent. Whilst we have talented drivers in the market at the moment, we don’t feel that either of them could compete with our current line-up of drivers. Vijay is quite clear, and always has been, that we have to bring drivers in on merit who are actually pushing Force India forward. So the answer really is to say let’s see if we can find some young Indian talent, nurture it, educate it and train it, and bring it through in the European manner.

Did you look at other successful young driver schemes?

“Yes and no. We’ve had a look at them. However, India is unique, because there are so many people there, and obviously motor sport is relatively young in India, and there’s not the awareness of whether it can be a career or not. Initially it’s going to be about identifying two or three young drivers to start the ball rolling, see how they go, and then I think the momentum will gather, especially with the Indian Grand Prix coming up. If we can bring a couple of drivers through and they go well, hopefully they can go all the way.”

So how did you start the search?

“We started with a seven-city tour. We had 20 go-karts and a whole team of people going round the country. We moved this circus around seven cities. Originally the age group was 14 to17, and we wanted to try and capture everybody we could, so then we went to 13 and 18, and we did a final round in an eighth city where we took in those. It produced 100 youngsters.”

And anybody could take part?

“It was open to anybody. We went to schools, we did advertising, and we stayed there until we ran everybody who turned up. Each event was at a recognised karting circuit in the cities, and the entrants had to do a few laps to show their competence. Once they’d done that, then they were allowed into our programme. It was a mixture of people who had raced and some who hadn’t.

What was the next step?

“Nico Hulkenberg and I then travelled to India before the Singapore race and we did four days of evaluation, and we took the 100 down to the final 10. The final was in Goa. We knew people would realise that it would be there and might try to do some testing, so we got permission from the FMSCI to reverse the circuit!”

How will you choose the winners?

“They are coming over to Silverstone immediately after Korea, and there will be a judging panel which will be Nico, Anthony Hamilton, Eddie Jordan and myself, and we will look at all aspects. The two key words are attitude and aptitude. It won’t necessarily be the one that has the experience. What we’re looking for is the one that’s got the talent to bring through.”

What’s the schedule for the final?

“On the first day they will go to the Daytona karting circuit in Milton Keynes for orientation and training, some laps, and a little bit of competition. The second day will be at the Porsche fitness centre at Silverstone, where they will be fully evaluated for the physical and psychological profile. The third day will be a media session with Louise Goodman, and the final day they will be back at Daytona for competition again. Once the judges have looked at all of these elements, a decision will be made on the three winners.”

What’s the next step?

“The three winners will be announced at the Indian Grand Prix. They will get a fully supported programme from a competition point of view, and an education point of view, because we also need to look after their wellbeing from an education side. It will be target driven, so as long as they keep hitting the targets, they will continue on. From us it will be a commitment to take them through to F1, as long as they achieve both their educational and their sporting targets.”

Will it be an annual programme that will allow you to add new people as other drop out?

“Originally it was designed to be bi-annual. Because of the ages we need a few to come out and a few to come in. However, I think once the Indian Grand Prix is up and running and the circuit is there, we’ll have a look at how we can do it better.”

And the programme is not just about drivers?

“Yes, behind the driver programme will be coming the academic element, where we will take bright young kids in aerodynamic and mechanical engineering, and we will sponsor their degree courses. And they will get work experience also in Sahara Force India. The third element is the vocational side, which will be the technicians and mechanics. It’s far more comprehensive programme than anybody else has ever done. We’ve got to help kids come into motor sport, and that’s the vision that Vijay has for the long term. That’s the legacy, effectively.”