MANAMA, April 6, 2008 (AFP) - The Force India team celebrated their most encouraging result of the season Sunday when technical chief Mike Gascoyne hailed Italian Giancarlo Fisichella´s 12th place finish as a "great´ performance.

Fisichella showed strong form after a disappointing qualifying session and took advantage of a good start to move up to 11th in the early laps before dropping back a place.

It was the team´s best result this year as they build up their efforts and resources following the take over of the former Jordan, Midland and Spyker outfit by Indian millionaire Vijay Mallya.

Adrian Sutil of Germany, in the second Force India car, was out of luck and had to pit following an early collision in which he lost his front wing.

Gascoyne said: "That was a great race for the team and it is so good to be racing again - racing against everyone else!

"Adrian´s race was unfortunately compromised when he lost his nose, but Giancarlo had a storming race and made up a lot of positions on the opening lap.

"It was a shame to lose out on the pit stops to Barrichello and then to get lapped just before the end, but apart from that it is promising for the team to finally be racing again."

Team owner Vijay Mallya was also delighted with the result and he is now hoping to build on it during the European season.

He said: "I am smiling after this race as we again stepped up our game here in Bahrain. We have performed well this weekend, with Giancarlo and Adrian just missing out on Q2 again by the smallest of margins and featuring well in practice.

"We have then achieved a double finish and were once more fighting for positions. Adrian was unlucky that his race was compromised at the first corner and he lost a lap, but he drove very well with an encouraging pace and secured his first finish of the year.

"He can use this as the start of his season and can move forward again in Spain.

"I was delighted with Giancarlo´s race pace and proud to see a Force India again fighting with well-established and experienced teams and drivers.

"Going into the European season now we have a very strong foundation."