A small step for F1, a giant leap for Indian motorsports

The last weekend of October 2011 will be etched in history. When the first car rolled out on the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) for the first free practice session here on Friday, it was an emotional moment for a lot of people. Just a couple of years ago, nobody could probably have imagined that this royal spectacle would ever come to India.

There has been a lot of speculation and change of plans for a few years now. Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and even a street race in New Delhi were considered. But nothing materialised. There were many sceptics who said that the inaugural race would never happen and it would be another Commonwealth Games case. But those are the people who know little or nothing about how things work in Formula One. Everything follows a strict deadline and there is no midway at all.

If one looked at the inaugural race in South Korea last year, a lot remained to be done even as the race rolled out. But one look at the BIC will tell you that this place is really ready. The grandstand is just magnificent with its sloping roof and the paddocks and atmosphere is comparable, if not better, to any other Formula One venue in Europe or Asia. Maybe there are a few small issues. But that, as Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone put it, is bound to be the case at any new track.

The track is new and there has been a lot of slipping and sliding, thanks to the dust. That should not be mistaken for a bad track. Once the newness goes away and the tyre rubber gets on to the tarmac, it will improve and give better grip for the cars.
Beyond the specifics of the track and how good it is, there is a lot of significance attached to this. Firstly, India has entered an elite league of nations. Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok have struggled long and hard to get a Formula One drive. But there is so much hope attached to the Indian Grand Prix that future generations of drivers will not have to struggle as much as these two did.

The amount of interest in the international media and companies is ample proof that India and Jaypee Sports International have delivered. More than just sport, it opens up a huge number of business opportunities. When business improves, the Chandhoks and Karthikeyans of India will be able to get sponsorship more easily because they are the stars locally and have tremendous potential.

A lot of people will be looking at this race rather keenly. A successful Formula One race will give way for more important events. MotoGP, for instance, is known to be keenly looking at coming to India. The track owners are apparently in talks with Dorna, the promoters of MotoGP, to have a round in India in the near future. That apart, this is one of the big automobile hubs and a lot of vehicle testing potential is also there. With all these, there is tremendous scope for revenue.

The only sad part is that there were some people in the government who felt that this was a few rich men having fun with fast cars. But hopefully, they will now realise that this is not just weekend fun but serious, really serious, business.