New Delhi, April 6 (Inditop.com) Formula One fans have voted Force India’s sensational second place finish at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix as the LG ‘Moment of the 2009 Formula One World Championship’.
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella gave Force India their first points after securing their first pole position in the Belgian race.
Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal of the Force India F1 Team, was delighted to receive the award which is being in association with F1 Racing and the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA).
Close to 90,000 fans worldwide took part in the wide ranging survey in which they were asked to choose their favourite moment of the 2009 F1 season from 12 memorable events during the championship. The fans voted Force India’s pole position with Fisichella and then charge to second place in the Belgian Grand Prix as the best moment of the 2009 Formula One season.
Almost one fifth of the voters who voted via internet chose this event as their favourite, leaving behind Jenson Button’s clinching the world championship in Brazil at second place.
The survey was conducted over a two week period in February 2010, with other contenders in this historic and thrilling season including the Brawn 1-2 in Melbourne, Mark Webber’s first victory and Lewis Hamilton’s race drive in Silverstone.
The results of the global fan Survey went public in this month’s F1 Racing magazine.
“It’s a real honour that genuine fans of the sport see our podium and pole position as their highlight of last year’s classic season of racing,” Mallya said in a statement Tuesday.
“It was the real spirit of the team in the face of adversity and ultimate triumph that stood out in people’s minds. Everyone loves when something unexpected happens in F1 and after our relatively quiet start to the year to arrive in Belgium, start on the front row and then finish on the podium seemed to come out of nowhere for the fans.
“For me it shows that fans see that exhilaration and appreciate the hard work that got us there. This award is really for the entire team and many thanks to all the voters.”
Andrew Barrett, vice president of Global Sponsorships for LG, said: “We wanted to know directly from fans their favourite moment of the year, something that made them feel good.”
rounak