INDIAN GRAND PRIX RETURN

Think speed, technology, adrenaline and thrill. Think Formula One! With a fan following of over 600 million and legends such as Schumacher, Vettel, Hamilton and Karthikeyan, the Indian Grand Prix has attracted the older generation as well as young .

October 30, 2011 marked a historic day in India’s sporting history, a country where cricket primarily dominates. As an avid follower, having been glued to the television during every race, the thought of being able to see the racing cars, drivers and hear the roaring sound of the engines on the Indian soil was enough to get my adrenaline pumping.

Playing host to this grand event was the 5.3 kilometre long Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, designed by the renowned German architect and track designer, Herman Tilke. The success of the Indian Grand Prix proved to the critics that India is adept in managing a world-class event of such complexity and scale, and as technologically cutting-edge as Formula 1; and do it well too. There were some hitches of course, like the stray dog that wandered on the racetrack and the rock concert that never happened, but on the whole, the event won a lot of acclaim and praise from the drivers and the passionate fans. It marked a new chapter for India’s arrival in the world’s sporting arena and raised awareness of a sport that is all about high-end cars, precision, scale, glitz, glamour and entertainment. 

Having set the stage last year, the Indian Grand Prix is all set to make its comeback this October. This is the chance to see the ‘big boys’ of the automobile industry, to experience the frills and fancies first-hand and to watch high-quality motor racing. More importantly, it is the ultimate test of human physical endurance. An opportunity to have a first-hand view of one of the world’s greatest sporting events in your backyard is indeed a dream come true, and add to it the exceptional performance of Force India team this season, is the icing on the cake.