MELBOURNE, March 12, 2008 (AFP) - Officials of the new Force India team are optimistic their two cars can compete with the midfield group in this year´s Formula One season, getting underway here on Sunday.

Force India, a repackaged version of the Ferrari-powered former Spyker team, will make its debut this weekend with experienced lead driver Giancarlo Fischella and German Adrian Sutil in India´s first-ever Formula One team.

The team´s new VJM01 car has completed over 6,000 kilometres in pre-season testing with an average of 368km a day -- more than one race distance -- without any major problems.

"We are here at the start of something incredibly exciting -- a new market to capture, a new spirit in the team and increased resources to really deliver," team principal Colin Kolles said Wednesday.

"Having the strong driver lineup of the experienced Giancarlo Fischella and Adrian Sutil was the first sign we are not just happy to be at the back any more and we are looking forward and laying down stones for the future.

"I really think we can join the midfield group this season and with it being so competitive, we could be in a position to be a regular points finisher."

Mike Gascoyne, the team´s chief technical officer, said there was a positive feeling in the team garage.

"I think it is always difficult to judge from pre-season testing, but you can see that we have taken a step forward," he said. "We are starting from the back, so how far that step will take us we have to wait until this weekend.

"But I think one thing is very clear from testing, that we are no longer the team lapping around at the back."

India became hooked on Formula One when home-grown Narain Karthikeyan raced for Jordan in 2005 and test drove with Williams over the past two years. Compatriot Karun Chandhok test drove with Red Bull.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is convinced the sport´s financial future lies in India and China in the form of untapped advertising revenues from large TV audiences.