Spectator sport in India will get a shot in the arm when the F1 blasts off there in 2011.
“F1 Supremo” Bernie Eccleston and his local partner Jaiprakash Associates, reported the BBC, are “fully committed” to the project.
The construction of a new Grand Prix track, outside of Delhi, has resumed. Work on was delayed by Ecclestone’s packed schedule of activities. Target date for completion is the end of 2010.
Force India, the country’s hope for glory, is comprised of veteran Giancarlo Fisichella and the promising Adrian Sutil of Germany. India entered the F1 stakes in 2007.
Singapore added another dimension to the races by introducing the first night event in September last year, which was, by all accounts, an unqualified success.
Despite cricket’s immense popularity with Indian crowds, Ecclestone was upbeat about F1 drawing the numbers.
BBC quoted him saying: “It’s a large, large country with a big population and it’s good for the sponsors, car manufacturers and everyone involved in Formula 1. I doubt in India anything will be a rival to cricket, but let’s see.”
For more details, visit www.formula1.com.
Peter Rajendran
