The Hindu : F-1 craze hits India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

F-1 craze hits India

MUMBAI JUNE 19. Sip a chocolate-laced coffee named SchuMocha after Ferrari's Michael Schumacher or gulp a beer with friends in McLaren T-shirts cheering Kimi Raikkonen and you'd be part of the latest trend to hit Indian cities.

Amid news of India lobbying to host a Formula One race, interest in the sport has ballooned with millions of fans crowding around huge screens in pubs or televisions at home to watch top drivers zipping on the track thousands of miles away.

Fans tend to reserve Sunday evenings for Formula One and out-shout each other in venues which are packed with chequered flags and life-size cardboard cutouts of Schumacher and other ace drivers.

Asian interest has soared since five red lights lit up Malaysia's first Grand Prix in Sepang in 1999, joining long-standing venues in Suzuka, Japan and Melbourne, Australia has a regional stop on the F1 circuit. Bahrain and Shanghai are set to join the circuit in 2004.

When asked if an Indian venue was likely over the next five to 10 years, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped so.

``I have looked into Asia now for 10 years as I believe that it is growing so fast and it has immense interests for the car manufacturers and sponsors,'' he told The Associated Press.

Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of leading motoring magazine Autocar India, says Formula One was a good vehicle to create the right visibility for products in Asia.

``Whether for software, cars or cigarettes, the markets of Asia are untapped compared to Europe's saturated markets,'' he said. ``It's the business reason that's driving the move to Asia.''

The Belgium GP at Spa has already been dropped from the circuit and the Austrian GP Spielberg probably won't be included on the 2004 Calendar. Eccelstone doesn't hide his dislike for the existing facilities at Silverstone, in Britain, saying new circuits abroad offer more attractive packages for drivers and spectators.

In recent months, the Indian media has speculated whether a track would be located in the southern cities of Bangalore or Hyderabad.

``Bangalore angling for Formula One circuit,'' said a headline in The Hindu's Business Line newspaper.

The article quoted a government official saying a team connected to Formula One had assessed facilities in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Nazir Hoosein, vice president of world motor sport's governing body FIA, told The AP that circuit designer Hermann Tilke had visited sites in India.

``It's true that Tilke has seen sites in Hyderabad and Bangalore. But just because he's gone there, doesn't mean it's going to happen,'' said Hossein. He said Tilke had designed the circuits at Shanghai, Bahrain and Malaysia.

Despite the undoubted public enthusiasm for Formula One, India lacks the infrastructure to support motor sports at the highest level. The country has no existing racing track of international standard and only one circuit in the south for national auto racing.

Only two Indians race professionally overseas, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. After winning championships on the Asian circuit, both have won Formula Three races in Britain. Their next focus is on breaking into F-1 teams as test drivers.

Chandhok's father Vicky, president of Federation of Motor Sports Club of India, the oldest motor sport organization on the subcontinent, is bullish about Formula One coming to India.

``What better than to get F-1 here and get an Indian on board?'' said the senior Chandhok.

The Andhra Pradesh government has offered land to set up the racetrack near the state's capital Hyderabad, he said.

A government official confirmed, on condition of anonymity, that talks were on to set up a private company that would build the track, with government assurances required for connecting highways and back-up infrastructure such as 3,200 hotel rooms.

The official said government worries stemmed from recurring investments required and the reality that a Formula One race wasn't certain even after the track was built.

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