Just a two-hour drive from Delhi, in the heart of Greater Noida, lies India’s very own state-of-the-art Formula One circuit, putting India on the F1 map as one of the host countries of the celebrated Grand Prix race. Later this month, F1 legends and other big names in the racing world will gather at the Buddh International Circuit to participate in India’s premier Grand Prix.
Indian Formula One fans are looking forward to this three-day racing extravaganza, what with the likes of everybody’s favourite teams like McLaren and Ferrari and legendary drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher participating in the Indian leg of the race.
Mumbai-based Trysen Sequeira, a Formula One enthusiast, says, “I’m rooting for my all-time favourite, Lewis Hamilton. I really hope he wins this race since he is rated in the third place so far.”
Jaclyn Bredemeyer-D’Mello, who is currently studying and training to become a pilot, has been an F1 fan for as long as she can remember. She has always been amazed at how precisely the drivers come in at a pit stop without running anyone over as well as how they endure the heat, seated in their cars, especially when the race is in a hotter-than-usual temperature. She excitedly says, “This season I’m rooting for Sebastian Vettel. Last year, he showed a lot of class and considering the fact that he races in a car that isn’t your typical Ferrari or Mclaren, it’s amazing! Besides, the way Vettel started this season was fantastic. However, as the season has progressed, he’s seen some tough competition lent by the two British drivers showing their class and skill too.”
The Buddh International Circuit can accommodate around 1,10,000 people. Tickets have been priced at Rs. 2,500 for green spots, Rs. 6,000 for Picnic spots, Rs. 6,500 for Classic seats, Rs.8,500 for the Star section, Rs. 12,500 for the Premium Stand and Rs. 35,000 for Grand Stand seats. It is known that the 5.14km track has been intelligently designed with a good blend of slow-speed turns and high-speed straights. If reports are to be believed, this circuit is one of the most challenging ones for drivers! According to India’s first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan, who will be racing on October 30, 2011 for his Spanish outfit Hispania Racing, hosting a Grand Prix in India is sure to bring about a change like it did for Malaysia and China. He also added that he could relate some of the corners on the Noida circuit to corners of other global grand circuits. There are are a lot of overtaking opportunities and long straights, he was quoted as saying. “With regards to India hosting its very own Grand Prix, this is a huge deal for us. It’s great that our country finally gets to be up there too! But I’m still wondering whether the circuit will be like Monaco or even Singapore, and whether the track is along the normal roads of the city. I just can’t wait to see it,” says Bredemeyer-D’Mello.
Mercedes-Benz is the official automobile partner for the F1 event at Buddh International Circuit Furthermore, heavy metal giants, Metallica, will be playing at this event, making it a double delight for fans. It has also come to be known that Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) plans to launch a driving academy in 2012 together with Mercedes-Benz. Th e selected young drivers will get a chance to train in Germany too!
FORCE INDIA
India, not one to be left out of global events, is represented by Force India, a team that was formed way back in 2007 when businessmen Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for €88 million (approx Rs. 580 crore). This year, the team comprises Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta who unveiled their new car known as the VJMO4 in February 2011. Th e car incorporates a Mercedes-Benz engine and Pirelli tyres. Sequeira, who is not too fixed on Force India being the winning team in the Formula One this year, says, “I don’t mind if they get points, but I don’t really want them to win in the end.”
“I’m definitely excited and proud that our country’s name is on the map along with the big guns of the Grand Prix. Also, Force India has managed to get a good number of points this season. It’s a good feeling! Being Indo-German however, I continue to support Vettel as well as Force India,” Bredemeyer-D’Mello says. Many F1 fans in India are vying for the coveted tickets to this race. “I just hope to get my hands on tickets for the Indian Grand Prix in October,” Sequeira concludes. One thing’s for sure, all those Formula One fans who will not be able to make it to Noida for the race, will be watching the Indian leg of the race on large screens at pubs, where the excitement is bound to be at an all high. F1 fans in India, most of which are already glued to the 2011 season’s lap-aft er-lap races are gearing up slowly but surely with F1 merchandise like t-shirts, jackets and caps of theior favourite teams.
F1 ICONIC LEGEND/ 1950s F1 Italian driver Alberto Ascari, winner of 13 championship Grand Prix titles (like his father Antonio Ascari) died while testing a Ferrari sports car. Strangely, both Alberto and his father died at the age of 36 after surviving serious accidents. Both died on the 26th day of the month, leaving behind a wife and two kids, and both crashed on easy left-hand corners. Known to be highly superstitious, it is known that Alberto was not wearing his
lucky blue helmet at the time of his death.
F1’S LIVING LEGEND/ Austria’s Niki Lauda, 3-time F1 World Championship winner, is known for his quick and courageous return to racing after surviving an appalling accident. Post his racing career, the former racing champion managed the Jaguar F1 team, worked as an adviser for Ferrari, became an aviation entrepreneur and went on to launch Niki Airlines.
WATCH OUT FOR
Sebastian Vettel
Nationality: German Team:
RBR-Renault
Position: 1
Mark Webber
Nationality:
Australian
Team:
RBR-Renault
Position: 2
Lewis Hamilton
Nationality:
British
Team:
McLaren-Mercedes
Position: 3
Fernando Alonso
Nationality:
Spanish
Team:
Ferrari
Position: 4
Jenson Button
Nationality:
British
Team:
McLaren-Mercedes
Position: 5
The Scores so Far
TEAM POINTS
RBR-RENAUL 426
MCLAREN-MERCEDES 295
FERRARI 231
Volume 1 Issue 4
