Vijay Mallya happy with team`s progress

New Delhi: Going into the summer break on a high with six points from the Hungarian GP, Force India is happy with the momentum it has gained after a slow start to the season but Team Principal Vijay Malla also regrets the misfortune that has struck one of the cars consistently.

In the last two races, one of the two Force India cars has finished in top-10 and has beaten strong Mercedes, among others. "I`m very encouraged and very happy. Development work through the season is obviously paying off. The car is getting better and more competitive and easier to drive. The drivers are highly motivated and clearly they are putting in their very best. In Germany it was Adrian, and in Hungary, Paul," Mallya said while reflecting on team`s journey. "We had a slow start to the season, because I think the first few flyaway races were just an extension of our development programme. But once we got going from the European season onwards, particularly from Monaco, we’ve improved almost every race.” "These last few races, where we have qualified in Q3, say it all. To be in the top 10 in such a fiercely competitive field is quite remarkable, and quite satisfying," he said. Paul di Resta earned the side six points from Hungarian GP with the seventh place finish, which followed a strong showing by Adrian Sutil in the previous race in Germany where he ended sixth. However, Sutil could not earn any points in Hungary after an opening lap fiasco. In the previous races, Paul endured a run of bad luck, with damaged wings, penalties and problems in the pits. Mallya was exasperated with the unfortunate incidents throughout the season so far. "It was very wet and Adrian went off into the gravel on the first lap (in Hungary). It`s unfortunate that we seem to be always having bad luck with one of the cars. It will be nice going forward to see both coming home in the points." Mallya is also satisfied with the car`s pace and is hoping for another strong show in the next race at Spa, where the team earned its Pole and podium in 2009 through Giancarlo Fisichella. "It was an absolutely fantastic moment to see the car in pole position in 2009 and Giancarlo Fisichella on the podium. But that car could only go very fast in a straight line, and pretty much didn`t do very much else! Now it’s doing everything that`s asked of it, irrespective of the track. I think that`s a better position to be in.” "We`re finishing the first part of the season on a very positive note. I think everybody has reason to feel proud and happy, and they can have a good break and come back refreshed with renewed energy and ready to score some more points." PTI