Force India hope to emulate fellow independents Toro Rosso and win a Formula One grand prix next year, team owner Vijay Mallya said on Monday.

Toro Rosso

"I could not be a happier man. I went to (Toro Rosso co-owner) Gerhard Berger and (team boss) Franz Tost and congratulated them after qualifying, and of course after the race," Mallya said of his rivals’ astonishing victory from pole position at Monza on Sept 14.

"It was fantastic that F1 proved that the independent teams can win," added the aviation and drinks billionaire in a team preview for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.

"That’s a source of great inspiration for Force India as well. I hope to be in the same position (as Toro Rosso) next year."

Force India have the same Ferrari engine as Red Bull-funded Toro Rosso.

However, while their Italy-based rivals have gone from being unheralded backmarkers to race winners with 21-year-old German Sebastian Vettel, Force India have yet to score a point this season.

The Silverstone-based team, race winners in a previous existence as Jordan, did make one breakthrough in Monza by reaching the second phase of qualifying for the first time.

"I’ve been measuring the progress of this team. We need to be more competitive, but 2009 will be the real test," declared Mallya.

"I’ve always said that we will take baby steps in 2008, such as getting into Q2, and I think we have managed to do that. We are racing now, we are beating the Hondas and the Williams.

"In 2009 we have no excuses, I know that, and I will make sure that we perform."

Formula One’s rules are changing significantly next year, with smaller teams like Force India hoping for a shake-up of the pecking order..

Source: International Herald Tribune

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

via: Sport Nation