New Force India set to miss second test

Force India confirms it is unlikely its 2015 car - the VJM08 - will be ready for the second test at Barcelona.

The team launched a new livery for this year during an event in Mexico City in January, but the new car was not planned to be ready until the second pre-season test. As a result, Force India was aiming to run last year’s VJM07 at Jerez before a late decision not to attend, saying it would focus on being ready for the final two test at the Circuit de Catalunya.

However, it now looks like the 2015 car will not be ready until the final pre-season test at the end of February, with Force India admitting it is likely to have to run its old car a week earlier.

“Although everybody is working towards getting the VJM08 to the next test session in Barcelona, it's more likely the new car will appear at the final Barcelona test,” a Force India spokesman said. “So, that would mean running the 2014 car at the first Barcelona test.”

Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer last week denied that the car’s late completion is down to financial difficulties.

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