With just four official tests at their disposal before the start of the 2011 season, most Formula One teams are expected to field their new cars at the opening session in Valencia in February. Force India, however, have revealed they plan to take their 2010 car to the Spanish circuit, before giving its successor, the VJM04, an on-track debut a week later at Jerez.
The team hope the deliberate delay will pay off in the long run, as it will allow them extra time to hone their new car in the wind tunnel at their Silverstone factory. Last year eventual champions Red Bull opted to miss the first official test altogether in favour of more time back at base developing the title-winning RB6.
"We've carefully considered our plans for the start of the season and the introduction of the new Force India, the VJM04," explained Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer to Reuters. "Starting a test later with the new car gives us a couple of weeks more wind tunnel time when we are at our most productive to get the parts released for the new car.
"There is always a trade-off between running the car early and getting increased information for the aero department and we believe it will work to our advantage, given our size and resources."
Sauber, Toro Rosso and Ferrari have already confirmed their new cars will make their on-track debuts at the opening Valencia test, with more teams expected to follow suit. The opening 2011 session will take place from February 1-3, ahead of a move to southern Spain for a four-day test at Jerez from February 10-13.
