Good news for all the lovers of motor sports. Formula One is coming to India. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has concluded an accord with Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One boss to organize a version of Grand Prix in New Delhi from 2009.
F-1 Grand Prix is one of the most popular sports events organized in selected cities of the world throughout the year. India is the latest one to propose the hosting of the event annually on her soil. But, the agreement is preliminary and conditional depending upon the approval of the venue.
Hope things go well and New Delhi hosts the first event of F-1 in 2009. However, the city lacks a racing track for the event. The IOA is yet to find a suitable land to build a world-class track. The F-1 management has some preconditions with regard to the racetrack and in meeting the requirements successfully New Delhi would be the fifth new venue to join F-1 championship in recent months.
Valencia and Singapore are scheduled to join the F-1 Grand Prix bandwagon in 2008. Abu Dhabi is to follow suite in 2009. South Korea will enter the fray a year later.
New Delhi is bracing up for 2010 Commonwealth Games. However, it is well behind the schedule and lost the bid for the 2014 Asian Games. But with F-1 coming to New Delhi, the IOA has salvaged some of the lost pride. Still, many things need to be done. Proper infrastructure and problem free transportation along with laying out a world-class track are the major challenges before the IOA. Lack of these facilities caused Hyderabad to lose its bid to organize F-1 Grand Prix in 2005 championed by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.Chandrababu Naidu. An infighting plagued IOA and strict conditions of F-1 management are sure to put a litmus test before the drivers fight for F-1 honor in New Delhi.
Via: BBC
