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One of the best: Narain Karthikeyan

Indian GP track unveiled, organisers slash prices for the raceday; Rs35,000 grandstand tickets will be available for Rs15,000

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For all those waiting eagerly for India’s first Formula One Grand Prix, here is some good news. Jayee Sports, which has built the Buddh racing circuit, announced a cut in the ticket cost for the last day of the mega racing event on October 30.

The main grandstand ticket, for which one would have had to shell out a whopping Rs35,000, will be available for Rs15,000 on Sunday. The other category of tickets which will be available cheap are classic and picnic at Rs 4,000 (6,500 for other days) and Rs 3,000 (Rs 6,000 for other days), respectively.

Unveiling the track, Samir Gaur, CEO and MD of Jaypee Sports, said the move comes in the wake of immense public demand for a cut in ticket prices for Sunday. “70% of the sales have been achieved and only five of the fifty corporate suites are left,” said Gaur.

Response for the event is huge. If the company is to be believed, the booking data shows that a total of 3000 tickets have been booked by fans from Singapore, UK and the Middle East. This is apart from Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone’s guests.

Even sportspersons are equally excited. Being asked about the unique features of the track, track consultant Vicky Chandhok said, “Corners three, four and 11 have been designed to conform to the new overtaking styles. Also, elevation changes are very unique.”

The track has been designed by German architect Herman Tilke. With the top speed of an F1 car in the circuit likely to go up to 320 km per hour, high-speed straights, elevation changes, and provisions for run off areas and medical facilities have been made. Tilke has a remarkable body of work to his credit, having designed world-class race circuits in China, the UAE, and the US.

With the Primary medical centre, emergency marshals, doctors and paramedics teams of around 200 persons in place, and finishing touches happening on the trackside facilities, the track seems all decked up for the event. However, when some overeager penpushers asked about finishing work still being carried out, Jaypee Group executive chairman quipped, “In India, when marriages take place, till last moment one keeps arranging for flower, vermillion till the last moment. Here we are welcoming not one, but 24 bridegrooms.”

Meanwhile, the circuit was unveiled amid much fanfare and was described as “one of the best in the world” by the country’s first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan. “I have raced on all the major F1 tracks across the globe and I rate this track as one of the best in the world,” said Karthikeyan.

Spread over 875 acres, the fastest lap time on the track is expected to be under 1 minute 27 seconds with average speeds crossing 210 kmph. There will be a total of sixty laps in the race. One of the questions that the organisers would be asking themselves is how to maintain the track once the race is over.

“Circuit needs to be utilised properly and definitely national racing events will be held on this track after the race. That is how budding Indian racers will come up. Around $400 million has been invested in this whole project,” said Chandhok.

Karthikeyan warmed up for the home GP by driving a Mercedes safety car for a couple of laps to get a feel of the track.
F1 equipment starts arriving

Equipment has started arriving for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. The first batch of 60 tonnes, includes equipment of championship leader Red Bull, as also Mercedes, a Jaypee Sports International source said. In all, 600 tonnes of equipment is expected for the race. —With agency inputs

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