In October 30, 2011 Greater Noida on Formula One Race circuit..Wow!!

In October 30, 2011 Greater Noida on Formula One Race circuit..Wow!!

It's official. India will host its first Formula 1 Grand Prix on October 30, 2011. The announcement came following an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday. The addition of an Indian GP to the F1 calendar will make 2011 a 20-race season, the longest in the history of the sport. According to FIA deadlines, the track needs to be completed by July 30 and it will get a go-ahead subject to FIA homologation.

The 5.14-km track, located on the outskirts of Greater Noida (35km from Delhi) is being built by Noida-based Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) and is designed by German racetrack designer Hermann Tilke, who has designed F1 circuits in Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Turkey, UAE and South Korea.

According to Mark Hughes, vice-president (operations) of JPSI, the track will be among the top five in the world as far as average speed is concerned. The average time per lap is expected to be around 1 minute 24 seconds. The track will have straights, quick corners and elevation changes. Hughes assured that the track would be ready by May 31.

FIA delegates will then inspect the safety conditions of the circuit along with the nature of the track surface. The track, which is being built at a cost of $350 million, will have a spectator capacity of 1-1.2 lakh and won't be restricted to Formula 1 races. It's being built to accommodate MotoGP and Superbike races as well.

Indian F1 driver Karun Chandhok said the announcement will provide a major boost to Indian motorsports. "With the Indian GP, more people in India will have access to not only F1 but motorsports in general. For me personally, it will be thrilling to be on the grid and hear the Indian national anthem before the start of the Grand Prix."

Former F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said that the track at Noida will prove to be a catalyst to Indian motorsports, similar to what Sepang was to Malaysia. "I am very happy and excited by the announcement. To have an Indian team on an Indian circuit will be a treat for home fans. This will also ensure participation of the automotive sector in motorsports," Karthikeyan said.

According to Hughes, ticket prices will be affordable and have different grades. Tickets will go on sale from January next year.

Among the various features of the track is the main grandstand that can seat 30,000 people.

"It's a monumental task, and work is under way at a staggering pace. Hold on to your holiday programmes for next year, for Greater Noida might just be the place to visit in October for an adrenaline-induced weekend," said Hughes.

Formula One motor racing will arrive in India in 2010. Delhi-based infrastructure major JP Associates has won an
exclusive 10-year contract to host the premier race in Greater Noida.

Manoj Gaur, managing director of JP Associates, confirmed this to the Hindustan Times and added that his group signed the agreement with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone last week. He refused to divulge details of the deal.

The race track, to be developed by the JP group, will be near the proposed Greater Noida airport about 50 km from Delhi. The Noida authority has already given in-principle approval for the site, sources said. The Rs 1,500-crore project will be spread over around 350 acres land.

Enthusiasm in FI has been the on the rise in India ever since Narain Karthikeyan debuted at the FI circuit for Team Jordan. On Tuesday, another young star, Karun Chandhok, tested for Red Bull at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.