Arjun Maini wins Sahara Force India’s ‘One From A Billion Hunt’

Bhopal (Press Release) : Sahara Force India Formula One Team and Mobil 1, today announced the winners of the Sahara Force India Formula One Team Academy’s One From A Billion Hunt. After hosting the regional rounds of the One From A Billion Hunt spanning seven cities, the Sahara Force India Formula One Team Academy has finally chosen the three winners from thousands of applicants during the final round of the Hunt recently held at Silverstone.

Image: (L-R)Nico Hulkenberg, Tarun Reddy, Arjun Maini, Jehan Daruvala, Dr. Vijay Mallya and Mr. Eric Carmichael.

Arjun Maini (14 yrs. old) from Bangalore was chosen as the winner of the Sahara Force India Formula One Team Academy’s One From A Billion Hunt. The first runner up was Tarun Reddy (14 yrs.) from Chennai with the second runner up being Jehan Daruvala (13 yrs.) from Mumbai. While Arjun Maini and Tarun Reddy qualified from the Bangalore and Chennai regional rounds of the One From A Billion Hunt, Jehan Daruvala qualified through the Wild Card Entry Round that was held in Hyderabad.

At the end of the intensive hands-on week, an expert panel consisting of Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal – Sahara Force India Formula One, Eddie Jordan, F1 Expert and Commentator - BBC, Anthony Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg, Test and reserve driver – Sahara Force India Formula One Team, evaluated and picked the three winners on the basis of a holistic assessment of their multiple capabilities and proficiency in requisite areas.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director, Sahara Force India Formula One Team said, “We have discovered three extremely talented participants during the Silverstone finals of the ‘One From A Billion hunt’. We are delighted with the response the program has received till now and we wish the winners all the very best. Through the Sahara Force India Formula One Team Academy, we look forward to help nurture and groom this young talent while providing them with the necessary skills required to be future Formula 1 drivers for the Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team.”

The winners were chosen from the ten national finalists selected during the National Finals held in Goa. The ten finalists went on to do a week-long intensive stint at Silverstone, UK comprising sessions of driver tuition on Dmax Karts, a day at the Porsche Human Performance Centre to assess and develop fitness for motorsports and media training with Goodman Media. The ten selected drivers completed their Silverstone experience with a race in Senior Dmax karts at the Daytona Kart Circuit, Milton Keynes.

Speaking at the occasion, Eric Carmichael, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, ExxonMobil Lubricants said: “We are delighted at the outstanding response that the “One from a Billion Hunt” has received from the karting enthusiasts across India. I would like to thank Dr. Vijay Mallya for the opportunity to work together in popularizing motorsports in India through this unique hunt and we look forward to continuing this into the future. I would like to wish the 3 young finalists of this program every success as they set out to break new ground and inspire other youngsters to join the sport. For, the day may not be far before we see an Indian driver on the podium in a Formula 1 circuit.”

“The top three were very close in the race for the championship and I have decided that all three would be sent to Europe for a comprehensive Driver Development Programme. The decision to be taken in consultation with their parents will ensure their education, lodging and training by Sahara Force India.” added Dr. Mallya.

Arjun Maini, Tarun Reddy and Jehan Daravala, will receive a fully funded European based driver development programme preparing them to become Formula One drivers. They will commence their journey to becoming a Formula 1 driver with a go-karting programme in Europe. They will then advance to appropriate single seater formula series before progressing to GP3 and GP2 and then F1.

For further information contact: Atul Malikram (7869912247).