How Formula One worked in India

Building a home for F1 in India

Buddh International Circuit

Multiple efforts have been made over the years, to promote Formula One in the country, but where alarming numbers still struggle to manage two square meals a day, the irony is just a slap away.

As far back as 1997, a plan was in place to locate the Indian Grand Prix in Kolkata. Fast forward to 2003, and India still had only two permanent raceways to boast of, in Chennai and Coimbatore. Locations near Bangalore, Hyderabad and even Mumbai were reserved to host a track.

Bernie Ecclestone had expressed hope how he expected India to play host by 2007, but that didn’t work out after Mumbai did a volte face, and decided to look at ‘more important matters than car fumes’. Newer sites were explored, including Gurgaon and Haryana.

Finally, in 2007, the Indian Olympic Association zeroed in on the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. And in 2011, India hosted its first ever Formula One race, which was won by Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull-Renault. Not surprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar waved the chequered flag, making for spectacular localised photo content.

On a positive note, the Buddh International circuit created jobs for over 10,000 people, with a potential $170 million in future revenue. Multiple tie-ups and endorsements later, the track is becoming a hot property for road shows.

Even the headliner Auto Expo has been deposed from Pragati Maidan in Delhi, to Greater Noida for its 2014 edition. Even though this was done to avoid the clash with the Detroit Auto Show, and also due to the unavailability of the previous premises in February, it reinforces the idea of a home for auto, in or around the home of Formula One.