Force India team owner Vijay Mallya has hit back at comments from A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira that the former Spyker outfit is 'sending the wrong message' to Indian
Formula 1 fans.
In an interview with
Reuters ahead of the A1 season finale at
Brands Hatch this coming weekend, Teixeira said that he felt A1GP was showing that India could be the best in the world through its nation versus nation format, while Force India was sending out a different message all together.
"Narain Karthikeyan won the race in China," he said. "I think A1 for all intents and purposes brings through the right messages into India by saying that India, although not a motor sport racing nation, can win the World Cup and can beat the rest of the world.
"
Force India, on the other hand, is not giving that message to young Indian kids. It's doing the opposite. Our message is 'India, you can win. It's a winning sport, your kids can win for India.' Force India has got a long way to go before I see a podium or they see a podium.
"The Force India thing, although great for India, is a little bit negative in terms of youngsters and getting them to race if you are never going to win a race. It's the wrong message."
However, in a lengthy statement issued by the Force India team, Mallya hit back at Teixeira's claims and said the South African would be better off focusing on his own 'standard single-seater' series rather than trying to make comparisons with
F1.
"I am amused by the comments of Mr Teixiera, promoter of the A1GP series, on how Indians should view motorsport in general and Force India's participation in the
FIA Formula One World Championship in particular," he said. "Mr Teixiera is better advised to comment on his native South Africa and his self-styled World Cup of Motorsport that is nothing more than a standard single seater series.
