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Monday ,7 September 2009

Tonio Liuzzi steps up to race for Force India

The Force India Formula One Team is pleased to announce Vitantonio Liuzzi will assume driving duties of car number 21 from next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

After evaluating options following Giancarlo Fisichella’s switch to the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team, Tonio has been promoted to the race seat from Monza onwards.

 

The 28-year-old Italian has fulfilled the team’s crucial test, reserve driver and development role from the start of the 2008 season.

 

Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal, commented: ‘I’m delighted to give Tonio the opportunity to get back into a race seat, which I know he has been itching to do for the past two years. Force India is now in a very competitive position and we need a driver who can continue this momentum. This will be the chance for Tonio to demonstrate to both the team and the field that he has the commitment, speed and professionalism to perform and I am sure he will seize this opportunity.’

 

Tonio commented, ‘I can’t wait to get back into the car in race trim, particularly at my home Grand Prix in Monza. I really appreciate the opportunity Vijay has given me, particularly now Force India now has a great car that’s performing very well. I am confident I can carry on our progress. I’m very motivated, I’m in good shape and hungry to get some more points on the board. Although it’s unfortunate that this came about as an direct result of Felipe’s accident, this is my opportunity to show people what I can do and I’m really looking forward to it.’

 

Quick Tonio facts:

 

  • Tonio Liuzzi has been Force India’s test and reserve driver since the start of the 2008 season. His last test in the VJM02 was on Thursday 3 September at Kemble airfield when he conducted an aero test with the Monza downforce configuration.

 

  • Tonio’s last F1 race was the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix with Toro Rosso. To date he has contested 39 Grands Prix, with a career-best result of sixth coming in the rain-lashed 2007 Chinese Grand Prix.

 

  • Tonio made his F1 debut in 2005 at the San Marino Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing. He scored a point on this debut although competed in just three more races that year before making a permanent switch to Toro Rosso in 2006, where he remained for the 2007 season.

 

  • Tonio holds the joint record for the most F3000 wins in one season; seven out of a possible ten in 2004, his championship-winning year. The Italian holds the record with Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld.

 

  • Tonio has also held the FIA-CIK World Karting Championship title, which he won in 2001.
     
 
 
 
1.
Posted by : Aman |  15 September 2009 at 3:01:16 PM
Heyy all the very best to force india! I know you can do this!!! Jai hind!
   
2.
Posted by : randolf |  12 September 2009 at 6:41:14 PM
go FORCE INDIA, 2nd :( :p hope they win !!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
3.
Posted by : vikash jain |  12 September 2009 at 12:06:48 PM
good luck force india i am a big fan of f1 and want to see force india on pole and podium
   
4.
Posted by : cristian |  10 September 2009 at 4:48:19 AM
vai To...ora tocca a te...fagli vedere chi sei...
   
5.
Posted by : Rossano Bhandal |  10 September 2009 at 2:12:38 AM
Luizzi won the karting world champs a few years back, he is a top driver to be fair to him i dont think anyone has a right to cuss him at all as he hasn't really ever had the chance to perform in a quick car maybe now he has if the force india car is competitive in italy then he might be able to show his true potentiol. Just being in formula 1 is like being a world champion your in the super championship so props of to him, you have to have some talent to be in their and he has obviously proved that because he got the call up from toro rossi and red bull and now force india he is experianced and defo has a pedigree. There is only 22 drivers at the minute in the world are there in formula 1 and there all champions, just to get there is a massive thing. Its like there is a bus and there is only 22 seats on that bus and you have to understand that there is millions of people in the world trying to get one of those 22 seats just hope the racing gods this weekend are on your side ! Buona Fortuna Luizzi
   
6.
Posted by : FORCE INDIA 7 |  9 September 2009 at 10:49:30 PM
Go force india we can beat ferrari and brawn gp
   
7.
Posted by : Dinesh |  9 September 2009 at 5:45:47 PM
All the very best Tonio!!! I am hoping that you will get more points to Indian Team... see you in action...
   
8.
Posted by : eshant |  9 September 2009 at 3:13:22 PM
now we r also the challenger in f1 fi is the fastest car on grid
   
9.
Posted by : Sunil Jassal |  8 September 2009 at 11:25:44 PM
Good luck to everyone at Force India Team !!!
   
10.
Posted by : Srinie Piyush |  8 September 2009 at 8:11:56 PM
You are the best, Tonio!
   
11.
Posted by : atishay jain |  8 September 2009 at 7:30:08 PM
i am happy that tonio will race for us but i would have been more happy if Karun Chandok OR even Narain Kartikayen would have taken his place!!!
   
12.
Posted by : ajay |  8 September 2009 at 5:01:12 PM
Let Tonio start from where fissi stops
   
13.
Posted by : Rajesh Kumar.k |  8 September 2009 at 3:34:51 PM
Hi Liuzzi... as you sed... we are looking farword to see more points for FroceIndia team. It's a great opportunity for you to prove that you are driving in great car and for the best team... Lizzi I wish you all the best for your comming races
   
14.
Posted by : bobby |  8 September 2009 at 2:25:02 PM
cant wait 2 see force india in italy sutil its your turn now you are best in every race quicker than fizi now show 2 every one that force india is BIG BEAST GOOD LUCK TONIO ; SUTIL
   
15.
Posted by : Sergio |  8 September 2009 at 1:03:26 PM
Go Tonio!
   
16.
Posted by : Sudarsan |  8 September 2009 at 10:29:48 AM
Hi Tonio! All the best!!
   
17.
Posted by : Bikram Deb |  8 September 2009 at 9:59:51 AM
Hi Tonio! Opportunity does not come very often. Grab it whenever it comes. God bless you.
   
18.
Posted by : aman |  8 September 2009 at 9:16:19 AM
common gys show the world force india has ability we will win good luck kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
   
19.
Posted by : Palu |  7 September 2009 at 11:30:02 PM
This is great chance to prove it for tonio that test driver is not just important for making improvement in car only they can show it on race track too.its delighting moment for tonio that he will race in front of his home crowed.all d best tonio,sutil and force india f1 team,give u r best
   
20.
Posted by : Praveen singa |  7 September 2009 at 10:31:08 PM
Good Luck Liuzzi. hoping to see one more podium finish at Monza.
   
21.
Posted by : chinmaya |  7 September 2009 at 10:26:21 PM
man TONIO u hav the best chance ever u ever got that u show your fan some bast job u can
   
22.
Posted by : Ramesh |  7 September 2009 at 10:03:59 PM
Good Luck Tonio... Make us proud by a great drive this weekend... Italy is a lucky circuit for a Test driver turned race driver... Kubica in 2006 won his first Podium when he was promoted as a race driver for the last 6 races... Make the history repeat in 2009.... Cheers
   
23.
Posted by : Tony Batley |  7 September 2009 at 9:07:31 PM
As Harshad Joshi said earlier, reserve drivers don't necessarily make good race drivers. Let him race 'til the season ends then get someone who's had a seat already, Kubicza or Heidfeld possibly for the new season next year. I hope I'm proved wrong by Liuzzi but we'll see. Good luck to him anyway, I'm sure we'll all be watching.
   
24.
Posted by : Dipesh varu |  7 September 2009 at 9:03:59 PM
best of luck tonio Be the Best With the Best fetch the best point for force india
   
25.
Posted by : umang todi |  7 September 2009 at 8:50:12 PM
please dont make a luca badoer,tonio.we r hopin to keep up the momentum with which fisi has left the team.goon without any pressure and rock the track.make force india get somepoints out there and goon the next season on a high.all the best from the wholeindia.rock on and chakde india.
   
26.
Posted by : Apurva |  7 September 2009 at 8:42:36 PM
Best of luck to liuzzi and Force India hope you will score points in your home crowd. All The Best
   
27.
Posted by :  |  7 September 2009 at 8:36:25 PM
Best of luck tonio hope you will score points for force india
   
28.
Posted by : Peter Santamaira-Woods |  7 September 2009 at 7:54:56 PM
Good luck Tonio! Don't forget, the pressure is off this weekend, you haven't raced in a while so just go out and do the best you can. I'm sure by the end of Friday you'll be right back on the pace. You have a billion Indians behind you, and also the Italian fans at your home race. =)
   
29.
Posted by : Prashant Nayak |  7 September 2009 at 7:19:55 PM
All the best to Liuzzi. I'm expecting another podium finish in Italy.
   
30.
Posted by : antony manu |  7 September 2009 at 7:09:22 PM
BEST OF LUCK....TONIO....
   
31.
Posted by : Rakesh |  7 September 2009 at 5:56:50 PM
Hi Liuzzi... plz mark a Indian Anthem on the Podium.. v al waiting for it.... Jai ho !!!!!!!!
   
32.
Posted by : Prathap |  7 September 2009 at 5:18:56 PM
all the best man.. score for force INDIA...
   
33.
Posted by : Chetan pangam |  7 September 2009 at 5:13:54 PM
Best of luck tonio. . . . U hav to be ur best. .in best competitive car of all time. . .
   
34.
Posted by : Prathap |  7 September 2009 at 5:10:22 PM
congrats man.. we need u to score points for Dr Mallya....do it for force INDIA...All the very best
   
35.
Posted by : Daanbeer |  7 September 2009 at 4:55:36 PM
Force India should have got Karthrkayen seriously
   
36.
Posted by : parminder |  7 September 2009 at 4:52:17 PM
all the best tonio.Best wishes from all of us here in India.Hope you can carry on the momentum.Run the race of your life and show your true potential.
   
37.
Posted by : bobby |  7 September 2009 at 4:52:02 PM
its a perfect choice tonio is good 4 that seat best of luck we are watching you
   
38.
Posted by : Vinay D V |  7 September 2009 at 4:51:11 PM
All the best to Force India and Tonio!
   
39.
Posted by : Chandresh |  7 September 2009 at 4:29:32 PM
All the best Tonio !
   
40.
Posted by : Davide Nervegna |  7 September 2009 at 4:05:43 PM
Siiiiiiiii, grande Tonio....e ora fagli vedere cosa sai fare... UN mega in bocca al lupo, ci vediamo a Monza!!
   
41.
Posted by : F1 Fan |  7 September 2009 at 4:02:50 PM
Good decision Force India, Liuzzi deserves a race seat! Forza Tonio!
   
42.
Posted by : senthu |  7 September 2009 at 3:49:35 PM
BEST OF LUK TONIO ..... KEEP THE WINNING STREAK TO FORCE INDIA
   
43.
Posted by : senthu |  7 September 2009 at 3:48:15 PM
BEST OF LUCK TONIO
   
44.
Posted by : Mangesh |  7 September 2009 at 3:43:54 PM
best of Luck.....hope you will get some points straightaway
   
45.
Posted by : Lorenzo |  7 September 2009 at 3:31:37 PM
Great Tonio!
   
46.
Posted by : Anisha |  7 September 2009 at 3:25:01 PM
Hopefully not until ferari comes calling...best of luck though
   
47.
Posted by : sasi |  7 September 2009 at 3:20:05 PM
wish u very best of luck tonio
   
48.
Posted by : Geoff |  7 September 2009 at 3:04:19 PM
Best of luck. I've been watching since F3000! One point. Please get normal haircut/clothes and reserve the 'style' until you are a consistent race winner - people will take you more serious this way. Anyway, I firmly believe you can do very well in F1 - and especially with Force India.
   
49.
Posted by : Kingfisher |  7 September 2009 at 2:55:58 PM
Good Luck Tonio...You know that you have the car to be competitive in Monza... Race for your life !!!
   
50.
Posted by : din |  7 September 2009 at 2:55:47 PM
Wish you the very best Liuzzi. Hope you make use of this opportunity and make sure you secure your seat for 2010. A point finish on your debut for Force India and that too infront of your home crowd would be fantastic. All the best!!
   
51.
Posted by : Harshad Joshi |  7 September 2009 at 2:46:22 PM
Duh..reserve drivers dont make good racers..!! Best example is Mr Luca Badoer of Ferrari.. Interesting fact that like Fisichella, even Liuzzi is an Italian, but why did Ferrari choose Fisi over him to race in Monza?? Strange things and strange guys you are.. Note - I havent seen Force India written anywhere on the car chassis..!
   
 

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