Battle at Buddh pepped up Indian season
Flashback 2011: Motor sport
In the winter of 2008, Jaypee Group bought an 875-acre plot in the middle of a great barren landscape that is Greater Noida.
Up until late 2010, the land was barely a concern to anyone, and seemed like Jaypee was working on yet another grandiose project. Little did anyone know that they were planning a treat for a starved motor sport fraternity and a cricket-exhausted nation to a feast like never before.
The project’s name was Buddh, name derived from the location — Gautam Buddh Nagar — and it promised to bring to life a dream racing facility. What that promise did was to convince the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) that India, a country that has been a part of motor sport for nearly a century, was ready to host Formula One. In 2010, JPSI and FIA joined hands and set foot to bring to life a reality which at one point seemed far from plausible.
While the race was on to complete the giant structure in the middle of nowhere, two Indians in Formula One — Hispania Racing Team reserve driver Narain Karthikeyan and Team Lotus’ reserve driver Karun Chandhok — pushed to drive in the Grand Prix instead of getting into the cockpit only during Friday’s free practice session.
The hustle to get the facility ready was on till the morning of October 30, but by 3.00 pm, it was time to let go and pray...
In two hours and a little more, it was all over. Already-crowned champion for the season, Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing, had done enough to pull out his index finger once again, and drink champagne out of the winners’ trophy. Karthikeyan finished a respectable 17th, while a disappointed Chandhok watched the race from the pit garage. Vijay Mallya, who was busy raking in accolades for ‘kicking off the Indian F1 team’, also had a ton to cheer about as he found a co-owner in Sahara to help Force India, and his team also managed to finish sixth on the overall table with 69 points. The inaugural Indian GP may have been the biggest talking point this year, but there were many more promising signs right through.
A handful of F1 hopefuls put on a brilliant show in the support races -- JK Tyre and MRF -- during the course of the GP. Vishnu Prasad ruled the roost in the Polo Cup, which -- contrary to initial fears -- has turned out to be an event on its own. Chitesh Mandody showed signs of maturity in claiming the Formula LGB crown in the JK Tyre National racing championship. Karting seems to have become the rage in cities across India, and hence a bunch of brilliant drivers coming through, none more talented than Bangalore’s Maini Brothers -- Arjun and Kush.
On the National rally circuit, Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sherif) went on to clinch the Indian National Rally Championship title for the third time, albeit with a little help from the fact that Red Rooster Racing shut shop and took out Naren Kumar and Vikram Mathias with it. Team MRF's Arjun Balu retired and Lohitt Urs signed himself as a privateer towards the end of the season to make Gill’s surge to the top a little easier.
In the two-wheeler section, Mahindra Racing, with its two drivers Marcel Shrotter and Danny Webb, put on a brilliant show in their opening season and managed to finish third overall in the 125 cc category.
To add to all that, India hosted the prestigious FIA Gala and their annual meeting in Delhi, winding up a power packed year for Indian motor sport. And by the look of it, it is only going to get better.
