Formula One
October 26, 2011
For most of the time on India's roads and streets, 50 kilometers an hour can be considered fast. Cars, buses and trucks compete with rickshaws, cattle and pedestrians. The result is often chaos. And despite the fact that many new highways have been built over the past few years connecting the country’s big hubs with each other, speeds of over 100 kilometers an hour are hard to imagine, let alone 300 kilometers an hour. But India's growing number of Formula One fans will soon be able to swap their seats on the sofa for seats at a live Grand Prix.
On October 30, for the very first time, India's Formula One fans will be able to see Germany's world champion Sebastian Vettel, former world champion Jenson Button from Britain and Indian ace driver Narain Karthikeyan live in the first Indian Grand Prix. It will be staged on a new track located near New Delhi, the Indian capital, in Greater Noida.
Newly built circuit praised
India’s motor sport chief Vicky Chandhok is the father of Formula One driver Karun Chandhok. He was once a successful racing car driver himself and describes the Buddh International Circuit as one of the best in the world. "Every single detail is absolutely stunning. It is made of the finest bitumen and the seating in general is fantastic all around the circuit", he raves. He says that all in all the finest of materials available were used. "This includes the fire fighting equipment, the recovery equipment, everything is absolutely world class."
The 5.14 kilometer-long track was designed by German engineer Hermann Tilke and cost an estimated 215 million US dollars to build. Tests have shown that average speeds of up to 318 kilometers an hour can be expected, making the track the fourth fastest in the world.
Formula One has improved safety
The inauguration of a newly constructed track comes at a sad time for the drivers. Just recently British car driver Dan Wheldon - who knew was friends with many of the Formula One drivers - lost his life during an IndyCar series race in Las Vegas. But Vicky Chandhok says although the incident was tragic, it has not had an impact on the Indian Grand Prix: " Formula One cars are much safer and they do not race on oval circuits and that’s all I can say. The Grand Prix can’t be compared with the crash that happened. It is unfortunate that Dan got killed. He was a good racer, but Formula One cars are very much different in terms of quality and much safer than any other car we can think of."
A limited number of fans, but huge potential
India will be well represented in its first home Grand Prix. On the one hand, the Sahara Force India team owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya will hope for a good result with its drivers Adrian Sutil of Germany and Paul Di Resta of Britain. On the other hand, 34 year old Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan will try his level best too. Karthikeyan became India's first ever Formula One driver back in 2005. But his Hispania car is not particularly competitive, so no-one is expecting any miracles from him
While Formula One still only has a limited number of fans in India, international sports organizers are attracted to the country because of the sheer size of its population. With a population of more than one billion India likes to style itself as the world's largest democracy and a country rich in business opportunities. Traditionally a cricket crazy country, India has now started hosting International football matches. Moreover, Germany's football giant Bayern Munich is pumping large amounts of money into the Indian market and is also on the look out for the superstars of the future.
Mismanagement and corruption
But despite this vast potential, India has been blighted for years by excessive red tape and corruption. The Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi were successful in sporting terms but were overshadowed by allegations of corruption involving the chairman of the organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, who is now in jail.
India's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix has also been overshadowed by controversy. The Indian Jaypee group, which runs a chain of luxury hotels all over the country, is now embroiled in a legal battle with many local farmers about the legality of the land acquisitions pushed through so that the circuit could be built.
Compensation not sufficient
Many villagers have even threatened to disrupt the race on October 30. The biggest farmers' lobby in India, the Bhartiya Kisan Union, is not happy with the compensation given to farmers in return for their land. Rakesh Tikait, the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union says that they are fighting a legal battle because they are entitled to fair compensation, "The farmers were given 800-1000 rupees, about 13 to 16 euros, while the market rate is about 20,000 rupees per square meter. That is why we are fighting for their rights."
Tiikait argues that only barren land should be acquired for such projects. He says that the land in the Greater Noida area as well as in some disputed areas of Gujarat and West Bengal is very fertile, "This is a fine land for farming. One can grow three crops every year", says Tikait. He is afraid of the fact that the problem of food security will worsen in India, if more and more fertile land is acquired in this manner.
The Buddh circuit was opened on October 18 after several months of uncertainty. Formula One lovers have already demonstrated that they are willing to pay double the normal rates at nearby hotels. Many travel agents have come up with special Formula One packages. There are now facilities for some 150,000 people and organisers say that because of low ticket prices the race is almost sold out. The teams with their household names like Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes will arrive on Thursday to start training and although Germany's Sebastian Vettel has already won his second world drivers' title in a row, he is sure to be hungry for success and next Sunday he will want to become the first driver to win the Indian Grand Prix.
Author: Anwar Ashraf
Editor: Grahame Lucas