When the majority of India had very little idea about Formula One, he dared to put a car on the starting grid.
Two decades ago, in terms of sports, India was a country all about cricket. Despite gaining independence in 1947, other sports, especially motorsports, did not grow in India. And in terms of being a booming automobile industry on the planet, India’s presence in global motorsports was next to nil.
However, in 2008, a car with the livery of India’s national flag stood on the grid of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. On its body, the name written was Force India—India’s first Formula One team, led by Vijay Mallya and Dutch businessman Michiel Mol’s consortium.
(Credit- India TV News)
Once a business tycoon, now a fugitive—there’s no dearth of negative points one can write about Vijay Mallya. However, we are not mainstream media here to put him on trial.
There was more to Mallya, and among many things, he was also a racer. Hailing from Karnataka and a business family, venturing into the racing world for Vijay was not a big deal. He had moolah in his pockets, and therefore, he was a regular at the Sholavaram races in Chennai in the 1970s and 1980s.
(Credit- Kolkata on Wheels)
However, money can’t guarantee a win in races; talent and skill do. Vijay, as a racer, had both. He won multiple racing events in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Exide Grand Prix Trophy and the Armstrong Trophy.
Indians who read newspapers are aware of the story of Kingfisher Airlines. From a swanky airline company to financial potholes leading to the airline’s decline, the story doesn’t need to be a repetition. However, despite all the controversy, one cannot deny that Vijay Mallya had envisioned something unique for the Indian airline system. Kingfisher was a stylish, swanky brand that made flying enjoyable for Indians. In short, Mallya wanted to do something different and unique for the country, but it all went downhill.
Being a racer, Vijay Mallya knew that F1 was the pinnacle of motorsport. Therefore, when he got the chance, he purchased the Spyker F1 team with Mor and named it Force India even though the team was British. Mallya was hell-bent on the car having an Indian license, representing the tricolour.
(Credit- The Bridge)
Yes, it is true that he was also interested in the business side of F1, which meant a substantial amount of money, including a free sponsorship from Kingfisher. However, there’s no doubt that he wanted to see India in the fast lane with the likes of England, Germany, Austria, the United States, and others, sharing the F1 platform.
Today, the F1 community in India is growing stronger every day as the youth takes an interest in Formula One. It is all because of Mallya’s vision that these youths, who were kids a decade ago, remember the Force India car in F1.
(Credit- IBTimes)
Not to forget, the eyes of Indian fans at the Buddh International Circuit, Noida, were filled with tears of joy and pride when they saw the car live, racing against historic teams like Ferrari and McLaren in 2011, 2012, and 2013—a significant moment in India’s automobile and racing history.
