Sahara India Pariwar becomes co-owner of the Force India F1 Team

The Indian Grand Prix is just around the corner and there’s good news for India’s only Formula 1 team – Force India. In an announcement in New Delhi today, Dr. Vijay Mallya revealed that the Sahara India Pariwar has invested USD 100 million in the team and as a result has bought over a 42.5 percent stake in the team. The move now means that Sahara India Pariwar now co-owns the team with an identical stake owned by Dr. Mallya himself while the Mol family holds 15 percent. Saharasri Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker and Chairman of the Sahara India Pariwar is also now the Chairman of Sahara Force India.

The duo also unveiled the new logo for the team which incorporates the Sahara logo with the Force India logo in perfect synergy emphasizing the tricolour of the Indian flag. Speaking on the occasion, Subrata Roy said, “India is reaching new heights in all spheres, including sports. Formula One car racing has always remained a bastion of the western world. The advent of India in this exciting sport has remained a matter of pride for all our countrymen. I feel doubly proud that Sahara is the co-owner of India’s only F1 team and I am sure that through the Sahara Force India F1 Team, we will together bring pride and laurels to our beloved nation.”

Speaking about the partnership with the Sahara Group, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of the Force India Formula One Team said, “I am delighted to welcome Saharasri Subrata Roy Sahara as Chairman of Sahara Force India. It has indeed been a matter of pride for me to put India on the F1 map with Force India and raise the performance of the team to its current levels. The Sahara Group has played a very important role in the development of sport in the country and is an ideal partner to take the Force India F1 Team to greater success in the Formula One World Championship".

Going into the Korean Grand Prix this weekend, Force India is currently on sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship having established itself as a leading mid-field team and growing ever-stronger with every race. The added investment by the Sahara India Pariwar will enable the team to further develop technology and components to improve upon their results in Formula 1. Research and development forms a key share of the expenditure in F1 and with the new partnership just ahead of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit at the end of October, it is great timing for not only the Force India F1 Team but also for the Sahara India Pariwar that is a leading patron of Indian motorsports.