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Indian GP: A formula won

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It’s been a week since the pinnacle of automotive engineering graced Indian soil with 22 Formula One cars taking to the track for the first practice session of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix. With the field now moved on for the next round of the F1 Championship to Abu Dhabi, we take a look back at not only this year’s Indian GP, but also what the country should take back from the three years that the race has been held at the Buddh International Circuit. There are lessons to be learnt and memories to cherish but the most important thing is that we’re hoping what we all witnessed last week isn’t the last time that the Formula 1 field graces our country.

It’s a sport
The sport is not only about drivers or riders competing with themselves, it’s also about teams and manufacturers going head to head against other other to showcase technological superiority. This year’s Indian GP saw Red Bull’s German driver Sebastian Vettel seal his fourth consecutive World Championship after a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s high time the authorities started recognising this fact and treat not only Formula 1, but Motorsport in general as a sport and not entertainment for the Indian audience. This isn’t just about terminology – it’s also about showing the world that we are a country that embraces progress and not one that shuns it.

India loves F1

Attendance at the Indian GP may have dwindled over the last two races compared to 2011, but there is absolutely no doubt that there is a massive audience for Formula 1 in the country. The way the grandstands erupted when Vettel performed his very expensive celebratory donuts after winning  this year is testament to the fact that more and more Indians are growing a liking to F1.

The problem today is two-fold – the lack of marketing for the event and its audience unfriendliness. There has to be a host of festivities running around the event that more people will find value in attending. People should want to come to watch the Indian GP for an unforgettable experience that they would want to return to year after year.

F1 loves India
It is no secret that the Buddh International Circuit is one of the best racetracks on the F1 calendar the world over. The drivers love racing here, not just because of the challenging nature of the circuit itself, but also because they like coming to India. There’s a lot to see and experience here. This plethora of cultural diversity that India has to offer needs to be exploited to generate even more interest for fans to flock here from around the world which will  only ensure massive revenues for our tourism industry. Anyone else thinking of a two-week vacation that lets you soak in the sights and sounds of India and top it with a Formula 1 weekend?

Looking ahead
The Indian Grand Prix has had its share of controversies in the past. It has also had its accolades – BIC was the best Grand Prix venue in the event’s inaugural year and in 2013, India has become only the 20th country to crown an F1 World Champion. The event isn’t on the 2014 calendar, but with the governing formula behind the sport becoming more and more relevant to road car technology, it is essential that the absence of the Indian GP remains a temporary affair and not a permanent one. Let’s hope India’s race returns in 2015, but this time the problems that plagued it are rectified for good. After all, Formula 1 isn’t just about racing, it is also a sign of progress and as a country that has consistently been trying to move forward.

We have a home team
Although Sahara Force India may not be anywhere close to the top teams in terms of performance, they are still a team with the cars bearing the shades of the Indian tricolour on their bodywork. It is indeed a very special feeling to see the Force India’s line up on the grid anywhere in the world, but more so at their home Grand Prix. We’ve also had Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok on the Formula 1 grid in the past years and if that isn’t a matter of pride for every Indian, we don’t know what is.

An untarnished safety record
In the three years that the Indian GP has existed, there has been no unscheduled involvement for the Safety Car to come out on track and get things under control. This speaks volumes of the nature of the Buddh International Circuit and the technical superiority of the track despite the cut-throat close racing that takes place here. This is the kind of racing that everyone loves – nobody wants to see accidents happen at 300km/h.

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