Force India VJM08

Force India VJM08
Race Car
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Force India
Designer	Andrew Green (Technical Director) Ian Hall (Chief Designer) Bruce Eddington (Chief Engineer, Composites) Dan Carpenter (Chief Engineer, Mechanical Design) Andrew Brown (Head of R&D) Jonathan Marshall (Head of Vehicle Science) Simon Phillips (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	Force India VJM07
Successor	Force India VJM09
Chassis	Moulded Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	{{{Front Suspension}}}
Suspension (rear)	{{{Rear Suspension}}}
Engine	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Turbo 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 engine (90°), limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric_motor	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K) Mercedes PU106B Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H)
Battery	{{{Battery}}}
Power	{{{Power}}}
Transmission	{{{Transmission}}}
Weight	{{{Weight}}}
Fuel	Petronas
Brakes	{{{Brakes}}}
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Notable entrants	Sahara Force India F1 Team
Notable drivers	11. Sergio Pérez 27. Nico Hülkenberg
Debut	2015 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	19
Race victories	0
Podiums	1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

The Force India VJM08 is a Formula One racing car which Force India used to compete in the 2015 Formula One season. It was driven by Sergio Pérez and Le Mans winner Nico Hülkenberg.

History

Hülkenberg driving the A-spec version at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

The car's livery was first presented at an event in the Museo Soumaya in Mexico City on 21 January 2015, albeit using a modified chassis from a previous car instead of the VJM08 itself. The team did not participate at all in Jerez and elected to use their 2014 car at the first test in Barcelona. The VJM08 finally made its on-track debut at the second and final testing session in Barcelona. This delay was in part due to Force India switching to Toyota's Cologne-based wind tunnel in Germany. The new tunnel allows the team to test 60% scale models as opposed to the 50% scale they had been using with their old tunnel.

The team used a new car development model for the 2015 season. They aimed to increase the car's performance as the season went on through the introduction of a B-spec car and several other upgrades later in the season.

VJM08B

For the 2015 British Grand Prix, Force India introduced a B-spec version of the car, featuring a distinct shorter nose with two holes in it. Initially, it was questioned whether the new nose complied with the FIA regulations, which did not allow vented noses. To stay within the regulations, the team introduced a spoon-shaped panel under the chassis, which also improved the car's airflow. Hülkenberg praised the changes, saying: "Now the car feels stronger, definitely." Over the course of the season, the team continued to introduce updates to the car including a new front wing, rear wing, rear suspension, floor, front and rear brake ducts and diffuser, among other things. At the Russian Grand Prix, Pérez scored a third-place finish. This was the team's third podium in its history. Ultimately, the team's upturn in form helped them achieve fifth place in the Constructor's Championship, their best season in its history at that point, despite scoring 19 fewer points than with its predecessor, the VJM07.

Complete Formula One results

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

Year	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Points	WCC
2015	VJM08	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid 1.6 V6 t	P		AUS	MAL	CHN	BHR	ESP	MON	CAN	AUT	GBR	HUN	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	RUS	USA	MEX	BRA	ABU	136	5th
				Sergio Pérez	10	13	11	8	13	7	11	9
				Nico Hülkenberg	7	14	Ret	13	15	11	8	6
	VJM08B	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid 1.6 V6 t	P	Sergio Pérez									9	Ret	5	6	7	12	3	5	8	12	5
				Nico Hülkenberg									7	Ret	DNS	7	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	7	6	7

References

This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Force India VJM08. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.