{"id":3283,"date":"2018-02-26T13:29:31","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T18:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=3283"},"modified":"2018-02-26T13:29:31","modified_gmt":"2018-02-26T18:29:31","slug":"force-india-and-str-completed-their-respective-official-car-launches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2018\/02\/26\/force-india-and-str-completed-their-respective-official-car-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"Force India And Toro Rosso Complete Their Respective Official Car Launches"},"content":{"rendered":"

The remaining two teams to officially\u00a0introduce their 2018 cars for the upcoming season, Force India<\/strong> and Toro Rosso<\/strong>, unveiled their respective challengers. Presentations took place today on the first day of the Formula 1<\/strong> pre-season testing\u00a0at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya <\/em>in Spain.<\/em><\/p>\n

Force India And Toro Rosso Complete Their Respective Official Car Launches<\/h2>\n

Force India presented\u00a0the new VJM11<\/strong> which features the pink color from 2017 and some details in white.<\/p>\n

Vijay Mallya<\/strong>‘s team incorporated the Halo system nicely in the machine and painted it in the same pink tone.<\/p>\n

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The Pink Panthers are back ?@ForceIndiaF1<\/a> unveil the #VJM11<\/a> in Barcelona #Unleash2018<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6MeSDG2ZtJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) 26 de febrero de 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sergio P\u00e9rez<\/strong> and Esteban Ocon<\/strong> had high praise for the new car. But\u00a0Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was the driver to take the car out on the track at Barcelona.<\/p>\n

VJM11<\/strong> completed 22 laps in Mazepin’s hands and its best lap was a 1:25.628.<\/p>\n

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For the first time in 2018… OFF WE GO!@NMazepin<\/a> takes the VJM11 and it feels like we\u2019ve never been away! #PinkRedefined<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/016A37klK7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) 26 de febrero de 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ocon is scheduled to drive the car tomorrow and “Checo” should be in the seat for Wednesday. The French driver posted on Twitter a message with the caption “New season, new car, new challenges” and a picture of the new vehicle.<\/p>\n

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New season, new car, new challenges???! #WelcomeVJM11<\/a> @forceindiaf1<\/a> @mercedesamg<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/x7X5nFH8Hc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) 26 de febrero de 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mallya convinced the team can maintain\u00a0the progression<\/h1>\n

Force India had their greatest F1 season in 2017 even though they could not reach a podium spot. But, according to the squad’s website, Team Principal Vijay Mallya believes they can improve.<\/p>\n

“I see no reason why we cannot consolidate our position and improve. Yes, Formula One is a very tough and competitive environment, but we are an established team with continuity in all areas of the company. We don\u2019t take anything for granted, but we will be disappointed if we are not fighting for points at every race this year.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Szafnauer is loving the “striking” livery<\/h2>\n

Otmar Szafnauer<\/strong>, Force India’s Chief Operating Officer, gave his impression about the car’s livery: \u201cThe VJM11 certainly looks eye-catching in its new livery. We worked very closely with BWT to deliver an even stronger identity for the car this year and everybody is really happy with the result. The new shade of pink is very striking and really pops out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Toro Rosso presented their STR13… officially<\/h1>\n

After last week’s leaked pictures and team’s official post of the new STR13<\/a>, the Faenza-based squad’s official car launch took place today at Barcelona. The vehicle’s livery had the same look shown in the team’s Social Media posts published last week.<\/p>\n

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Here it is: the #STR13<\/a>! ?<\/p>\n

Profile ? https:\/\/t.co\/v63mcceLsu<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HKskG96l1K<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) 26 de febrero de 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The new\u00a0Toro Rosso-Honda<\/strong> hit the track in the hands of New Zealand’s Brendon Hartley<\/strong> and fulfilled 70 laps in the morning session and the best lap time was a 1:22.371.<\/p>\n

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Lunch time! A solid start to #F1Testing<\/a>, Brendon finishes the morning with 70 laps! ? pic.twitter.com\/9XmAqY7PfG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) 26 de febrero de 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tost: A new era for our team<\/h1>\n

Red Bull-Toro Rosso Honda Team Principal, Franz Tost<\/strong> declared himself optimistic on their new partnership with Honda and their driver lineup. “I am really looking forward to <\/em>begin this new season and enter a new era for our team, working together with Honda. It\u2019s an exciting time for Toro Rosso because we have not had our own engine supplier before, so to partner with a manufacturer, with the history Honda has, will be great.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We also have two accomplished rookies for the 2018 season. They are not completely new because both Pierre and Brendon drove a handful of races for us last year, but this will be their first full season in Formula 1.\u00a0 Both drivers come to us as champions, as Pierre won the 2016 GP2 (now F2) Championship, while Brendon is a double World Endurance Champion and 24 Hour of Le Mans winner. I\u2019m convinced that if we provide them with a competitive car, they’ll be able to perform at very high levels.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Honda’s Dedication<\/h2>\n

Katsuhide Moriyama<\/strong>, the Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations of Honda, expressed his happiness with the Japanese manufacturer’s partnership with Toro Rosso: “I am delighted that our new car is here and ready for the start of winter testing, having been designed and built to a very tight schedule. That is a tribute to the dedication of the Honda and Scuderia Toro Rosso personnel who have already learned to work very well together, developing the STR13 chassis and RA618H power unit package over the short winter months.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We have eight days to evaluate our work on the track, in order to be ready for the coming season. We appreciate the warm support from the fans and hope they enjoy watching us compete in this year\u2019s championship.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Drivers<\/h2>\n

Gasly wants to “smash it” every race<\/h3>\n

Pierre Gasly<\/strong>, who drove with STR for five races last season and didn’t score points, explained he’s hopeful to do well in 2018.\u00a0“It\u2019s a big year ahead and I\u2019m super excited about it all, starting testing and then the first race isn\u2019t that far away. I just want to smash it for the 21 races that we have ahead of us.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I always want to be the best and try my hardest. It\u2019s true that this is F1 and, even if in the<\/em>
\n last few years I\u2019ve been fighting for wins, podium finishes and titles, this year, that might be a little bit more complicated! But it doesn\u2019t change my aim of always doing the best I can with the equipment I\u2019m given.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Hartley: Living my dream<\/h3>\n

New Zealand’s Brendon Hartley<\/strong>, as the team’s official web published, is living a dream with Toro Rosso and the opportunity he received to drive an F1 car. “I\u2019m looking forward to a lot of new challenges and I\u2019m particularly excited about the first event. Australia isn\u2019t a home race for me, but when I was back in New Zealand, every second or third person I met told me they were coming to watch in Melbourne. So I\u2019m hoping to see a lot of New Zealand flags there. Generally, I\u2019m looking forward to the whole season as this is something I\u2019ve dreamed about my whole life.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Hartley is set to complete today’s Barcelona test and will drive again on Wednesday. Whilst Gasly will jump into the car on Tuesday and Thursday test days.<\/p>\n

MAIN PHOTO:<\/strong>
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>