War in the name of F1

Is the Indian Formula One dream turning out to an annoying formula of disunity too? The Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) announcement heralding the arrival of F1 to India by year 2009 is in for a fair amount of criticism.

According to reports, two motorsports bodies in India are raising questions about the IOA’s ability to successfully pull off an event of such magnitude and significance. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi had announced the arrival of an Indian Grand Prix in Delhi in 2009 saying that it was historic as never before has a national Olympic Association ever taken such an initiative in Formula One.

The reason being cited is that no Olympic Association anywhere in the world has ever managed to pull off such a thing before. However, the reason may be that no Olymnpic Association has never attempted such a thing as it was totally out of their domain! The Motorsports Association of India (MAI) and the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) are of the opinion that the IOA lacks experience in organising motor sports events. They allege that lack of technical knowledge dogs the IOA.

Meanwhile, the rebuke has sparked off a debate among motoring enthusiasts, which promises to rage in the days ahead. According to Nazir Hoosein, president of the Motorsport Association of India, Kalmadi’s F1 announcement was a bit premature. He adds that the announcement should have come after things had become a little more concrete. In the end, it is only an MoU with Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 boss. Rajat Mazumdar, president of FMSCI, adds that the body would help the IOA with the technical know how, but not the money. He adds that the only authorised body that can run motor sports in the country is FMSCI.

However, IOA playing the role of promoter, will be solely responsible for bringing F1 to the country. And it is not going to be an easy task. The likely region would be New Delhi, considering that it ahs relatively better infrastructure compared to the other metros. However, it is still not enough. Infrastructure, capital, managing teams, getting all equipment, customs clearance, sponsors …the list would b a long one for IOA to lay its hands on. A mammoth task indeed awaits IOA and Kalmadi hopes for government and industry involvement in the effort.

IOA has in fact fired a rebuke at motor sports bodies saying that the Association took up the challenge of bringing F1 to India as motorsport bodies didn’t do it. The motorsports bodies think they would need an investment of about Rs 1500 crore in this regard, but Kalmadi points out that an industrialist like Vijay Mallya was ready with a blueprint involving one-tenth of this amount. Kalmadi adds that the only approval they need is F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s.

There are other interesting points. Vijay Mallya has been trying to bring Formula One to India for a while. His efforts were progressing steadily due to his personal friendship with Bernie Ecclestone. A couple of months back, Herman Tilke, the f1 track designer had visited New Delhi to take a look at the possibility of a street track and even met Sheila Dikshit, the CM of Delhi. So, this announcement by the IOA comes out of the blue for many. They were not even rumored as planning anything like this. So was this a paralle track always? Nobody seems to know. Next, who would be more succesful at getting things on the road? Suresh Kalmadi is a politician, and he may know stuff we already don't. Perhaps he has already secured the right assurances. Perhaps, Vijay Mallya prefers it this way. However, the general mood is pessimistic, as no one is confident that the IOA (or Mallya, or the motorsport bodies for that matter) can get the requisite sanctions and infrastructure ready by 2009.

Far from the spat, meanwhile, India’s first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan hopes that the IOA can make it happen. Saying that he would love to drive a home race, he adds that the time is ripe for a Grand Prix. Given that his F1 performance - mostly due to the car he drove - was nothing spectacular, that might turn out to be even more difficult that getting Formula One to India!