India's usually overshadowed motor racing fraternity is banking on the arrival of Formula One to spark domestic interest in their sport, with names such as that of Sachin Tendulkar already being linked to a racing franchise concept.
As workers put in overtime to get the Buddh International Circuit into shape, officials are getting excited and they’re confident that the inaugural Indian F1 Grand Prix will change the face of motorsport in a country where all sports take a back seat to cricket.
Vicky Chandhok, president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India, dismissed concerns about the completion of the $215 million (R1.55-billion) circuit about 40km from New Delhi in the satellite town of Greater Noida.
“It will project India as a technologically driven country, since F1is the world’s most technology-driven sport,” he said. “We already have a few drivers in the international arena and F1 has huge television audiences, so you can expect a lot of youngsters to take to the sport.”
The 5.14km circuit was laid out by German architect Hermann Tilke, designer of many of the new circuits that have been added to the F1 calendar in recent years. It’s part of a sports city being developed by real estate giant, the Jaypee Group, which has 10-year rights for the Indian F1 race.
Now a motorsport management company has announced a city-based franchise competition to be run in December, with cricket icon Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. It joins an increasing group of sports, including American football, hockey, volleyball, badminton and tennis, that are launching pro leagues in India following the stunning success of the Indian Premier League in cricket.
The i1 Super Series has yet to win approval from the International Automobile Federation, but plans have already been announced for a seven-race series with teams from nine Indian cities on circuits in New Delhi and Chennai in India, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai in the Gulf, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Pattaya in Thailand.
It’s worth noting that the two last-named do not have suitable venues so temporary street circuits similar to the A1 circuit in Durban are presumed.
Machdar Motorsports chief executive M. Darshan said: “Cricket and Bollywood stars as well as some top industrialists have shown a keen interest to own teams.”
He expects the series to raise interest in the sport evoked by Narain Karthikeyan, who in 2005 became the first Indian to race in Formula One. Karthikeyan, who drove for Hispania in the early part of this year's F1 championship, expects the Indian Grand Prix to make motor racing a mainstream sport.
Karthikeyan said: “This will be the start of a big surge in Indian motorsport. We've been on the threshold for a few years now and this should give us a shot in the arm,” .
Vicky Chandhok's son Karun, made his F1 debut with Hispania last year and has since switched to Lotus; he feels business support is vital.
Chandhok said: “More people will want to be associated with the sport. Our biggest challenge has always been funding. I hope more corporates step forward and see the benefits of being associated with the sport.”
Indians have taken some interest in the performance of Force India, an F1 team run by liquor baron Vijay Mallya for four years now.
Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta had shown improved form after a sluggish start to the season, and will be eager to perform well on the team's home track.
Chandhok: said: “There has been huge interest in F1 for many years, so the fan base is already there. Last year's Monaco Grand Prix was watched by 27 million people in India - that's more than the TV figures for the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy combined.
“If just one half of one percent of that audience turns out for the race, we’ll have 150 000 spectators!”
The area where the circuit is being built was originally farmland - like the Korean Grand Prix which debuted in 2010 - but it will become a new suburb with apartment and townhouse complexes, which are also under construction.
The developers are hoping to market the area as a sports city, complete with a cricket stadium and golf course.
It’s a dustbowl now, with security guards keeping out curious residents and media. Organisers are planning a national race meeting after the FIA inspection on September 1, as a shakedown before the Grand Prix, although some luxury and media facilities only will be finished in 2012.
Under the tight control of Jaypee Group executive chairman Manoj Gaur, India’s first Grand Prix is expected to be ready in time, unlike the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, which promised to put the spotlight on India's rapidly-growing economy but caused international embarrassment amid building delays and allegations of corruption. - Sapa-AP