Force India aiming top-five with new VJM05

Force India have today unveiled their contender for the 2012 Formula One World Championship. The VJM05 is the fifth car of the Indian team on F1 and it was unveiled this morning at Silverstone by the hand of Paul di Resta, Nico Hulkenberg and reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

It is the first time ever that Force India will have its car ready for the first pre-season practice of the year, since Vijay Mallya bought the Spyker team.

Powered by a Mercedes engine the VJM05 features a nose which is similar to the one shown a few days ago by Caterham. Changes from last year’s car can be spotted on the sidepods, heavily revised because of the new exhaust rules, and on the missing 'blade' style rollhoop design.

The Indian team expects in 2012 to improve on its best-ever sixth last year, wishing to fight for the top-five places in the constructor’s standings. For 2012 Force India replaced Adrian Sutil with Nico Hulkenberg and maintained Paul di Resta. Jules Bianchi joined the team as a reserve driver.

"I think every individual in this team has put a lot of effort into his car," di Resta told Sky Sports News. "The momemtum we had at the end of last year, hopefully we've manged to carry that over but I must say it is a fine piece of art. Hopefully when it gets to track it'll be able to show what it's capable of."