Force India engages in GP3 partnership

Sahara Force India today announced a further expansion of its driver development programme as it enters GP3 in partnership with Hilmer Motorsport. The deal will see Hilmer compete in GP3 with three cars painted in the F1 team's colours.

The deal follows an earlier partnership in GP2 as Force India aims to create a full blown driver development system, much alike Red Bull's system.

The GP3 team will make its first on-track appearance at the Jerez test on April 10-11, while the racing debut will take place in Barcelona at the beginning of May.

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “Our partnership with Hilmer to field a GP3 team reaffirms Sahara Force India's commitment towards developing a new generation of drivers. Combined with our support for grassroots karting, our presence in GP3 and GP2 lends valuable support to up-and-coming racers and will help them to realise their potential.”

Franz Hilmer, Team Principal of Hilmer Motorsport: "We are very happy to announce the expansion of our collaboration with Sahara Force India. After the partnership with our GP2 team we are very proud that our GP3 team will also contest under the Sahara Force India banner. It is a big but also logical step for us in the development of ambitious talents and with teams in GP2 and GP3 we are present in the two major junior formulas. We offer an ideal platform to young drivers and our target is to prepare them as effectively as possible on their way to the pinnacle of motor racing.”