The question is very simple ‘Will India be able to make Formula One a mass sport in India or will it be able to keep it here for a longer period of time.’

Yes of course India is one of the largest growing economies in the World. The masses get easily lured by glamourous things but is Formula One the cup of Tea for India.I don’t doubt it. But will it be able to spend millions of Dollars every year for hosting a F1 grandprix. Will the government ready to spend heavily for next ten years.

India is a country where cricket has always ruled it since the coming of British in India. Cricket was first played by some British sailors in 1727 near the ‘Port of Cambay’ since then it has been the favorite sport of India. People has always asked why Cricket is a religion here in India. I have the answer. The first Indian community to play cricket are the ‘parsis’ since then it has turned out into a game of communities between the Hindu Bramhins, Muslims, Parsis. The fierce rivalries between the communities and also against the British has also appealed it to the masses. It has always sparked some sought of nationalism within us. By defeating the British we always felt proud because it was there game and we have beaten them there.The Hindu bramhins of Poona are the first Indian team to beat any British side. It has also helped us to get rid of all sought of caste distinction and untouchability and has succeded to unite India and to renew friendship against Pakisthan. In this Country cricketers are treated like gods and not to forget the tennis player Sania Mirza, but the Athletes, Footballers and Hockey Players(sports where India has won numerous laurels in the past) are treated like beggars even if they win an Asia Cup.

Now coming back to Formula One why I m questioning all these things because you need to spend a lot here. The motorsports infrastructure of this country is that of the past,past centuries as Sepp Blatter(FIFA President) said it about our Football infrastructure.If you go to asian countries like Malaysia, Japan and others you will find great infrastructure.But India is something that we don’t like to talk about. The IOA(INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION) and its head honcho has undertaken the project of bringing Formula One in Indian Sub-continent by 2010.But they need to keep some points in mind that Bernie Ecclestone(FIA Supremo) is not happy with the organizers of US grandprix and has decided to move the circus from USA.Why?
Ecclestone is said to be angry with the organizers as he can only see the hoardings of Indy US 500 all over the country but where is Formula One. Bernie has decided not to give any more contract to the Indy Circuit and has commented that ‘Its not our priority to have a Formula One race here in USA’, but there are also some reasons it is being said that Bernie wants a bigger amount of fees from Indy circuit for hosting an F1 race & they are not able to reach at an agreement as said by the head of INdy Circuit Tony George.That’s why it is necessary for India and its organizers to market the sport well and should look after the mass awareness of the sport because the mass knows only Cricket, Cricket & Cricket. I don’t doubt the fan following of F1 in India but until & unless it is appealing to the masses Formula One has no future here in India. Though we have some good drivers in the Grand Prix circuits like Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandok & Parthiva Sureshwaran. We have an great young talent in Aarman Ibrahim who has already made India proud in Bmw Formula Asia Championship and even attracted us with his driving skills in A1Gp, the World cup of Motorsport. We also have some talents coming up through Go-Karting and Rolon cars championship one of them is Rayamond Banajee but they are also suffering because they don’t have the best of their sponsors.They need more support especially from the government.

We need to make the race a popular one in the calendar so that the sponsors also shows a lot of Interest. Sponsors are the nerves & veins of this sport.If we don’t have good sponsors.It will be tough for us. The French Grandprix at Magny-Cours was losing it Grand Prix status just because it is not able to acquire good sponsors.We are still not confirmed that we are going to have a French Gp at Magny-Cours again at 2008 or not because it is still not confirmed by Ecclestone’s Formula One Administration. F1 is a popular TV sport so organisers in India should look forward to bring people in the track.So that the sponsors should be happy.

Now let me tell you all about the facts and figures that India need to spend and need to do for hosting an F1 Gp:

To bring the circus to India the Goverment need to do some serious spending. The track alone will cost in the range of Rs 450-500 crore. After factoring in the cost of the land, the infrastructure cost is likely to escalate to over Rs 1500 crore. This does not include the rights fee that Formula One Administration (FOA) charges from titleholders (hosts). It can be anything in the range of $15 million (Rs 63 crore) to 50 million (Rs 210 crore). The total land needed to set up the facility is estimated at 750 acres with the track, pits, paddocks, and stands accounting for approximately 300 acres.

To recover this kind of money IOA has to have a very good profit model in place. This can be achieved if the circuit is used as a world-class entertainment centre for the period when races are not being held. That is why the economics of a street race work out more favourably for India.Besides the track, the supporting infrastructure must also be up to international standards. For example, the airport should be able to handle seven large transport aircrafts like Anatovs or 747s simultaneously. The customs should be able to clear massive amounts of technical equipment of the teams and television rights holders in a matter of hours.

In all, around 300 international flights will touch base carrying over 3000 technicians, supporting staff and drivers accompanying the circus - not counting the spectators - from the nearby countries during the race weekend. According to the FOA guidelines the airport should be connected to the race venue with at least a six-lane expressway. Besides, the hosting city should have hotels with the capacity of 4,500 star rooms out of which 1,800 have to be at least of five star standards.

The German track designer Herman Tilke has already submitted a good report after inspecting the place in Delhi(Noida,Gurgaon,Wazirabad) and so India is determined to have his F1 grand prix by 2010.

Addressing a Press conference by the IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi he said:That preparations were moving in the right direction and that two sites around the national capital had already been shortlisted as possible F-1 tracks for the Indian GP.
The track may be constructed in either Greater Noida or Sohna, near Gurgaon, Kalmadi said.
The total area in Sohna is between 1200 and 1500 acres, while it is around 1600 acres in Greater Noida.
‘Recently I was in London and met (FIA chief) Bernie Ecclestone,’ Kalmadi said. ‘Bernie has given me two draft contracts, one for race promotions and the other for circuit rights.
‘Now that we have the draft contracts, we will take a look at the financial aspect and then sign. The contract will be for a minimum of 10 years, if not more.’
Kalmadi also claimed that chief architect of the Formula One circuit Hermann Tilke, who surveyed the prospective sites earlier this month, submitted a good report on his return to London.
‘They (the FIA) have asked us to finalise one of the two sites as the race venue. The September 30 deadline for completing all formalities has been extended.’
Asked whether the FIA has set a deadline for signing the contracts, the IOA chief didn’t have a clear answer. ‘There is plenty of time and we are in no particular hurry,’ was his reply.
He also refused to divulge how much the IOA would have to pay the FIA in race promotion fees, saying ‘it is strictly confidential.’
He painted a rosy picture about the profits. ‘Expenses to lay the track will be cheaper than in other countries as labour is less costly in India. We can make a profit though it is not going to be an easy task. The challenge is not the Grand Prix, but how to use the track all year round.’
The IOA will also seek Vijay Mallya’s help for the successful launch of the race as Mallya as already bought a 50-percent share in team Spyker & he will surly use his bourgeoisie power to get India the Grand prix status.
In the end I would only like to say that India needs to spend a lot of money each year to host an F1 Grand Prix and I wish that they do it in all conditions so that India can also reap the benefits from there investment I would like to end this article with the benefits that India can gain by hosting a F1 Gp.
A Formula 1 race in India can generate revenues up over Rs 40 crore besides opening up over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. With over 70 percent of spectators being non-locals means booming business for the hotel and tourism industry.