New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Riding on the stupendous success of the inaugural Formula One race in the country, the organisers, Jaypee Sports International (JPSI), want to turn the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) into the hub of motorsports in South Asia.
The BIC received an instant thumbs-up from the Formula One stars, who can’t wait to return next year for the second race. JPSI invested $400 million for building the infrastructure for the race and to get the licence from the FIA world body to host the Grand Prix event.
JPSI’s managing director Sameer Gaur said the group is planning to host several support races ahead of next year’s Formula One.
‘We have plans for several races in a couple of months,’ he said.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said India should be proud to have organised such a successful race.
‘India should be very proud that a private enterprise has achieved this. Everything is super, it just needed a little bit of polish. It needs to be tidied up which doesn’t take time,’ he said.
Double world champion Sebastian Vettel said the organisers have done a great job to build the circuit in quick time.
‘What the people did here in the short amount of time to put up this arena is incredible. All in all it was fantastic and I’m very proud to be the first winner here. We are still hungry, we are not lacking motivation. I love what I do and we don’t want this (season) to end,’ said the Red Bull driver.
‘I think it is a very impressive country, very different to what we probably know from Europe, but very inspiring. If you keep you eyes and ears open I think you are able to learn a lot, the way the people handle things,’ he said.
Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg said: ‘The new track here in India is awesome. It has some very interesting corners, and that’s why it takes a bit longer to get used to the layout than at some of the other new circuits.’
Team-mate and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher said the 5.137-km course has a challenging layout.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton said: ‘The track is fantastic – the organisers here in India have done a great job. It’s very fast and flowing, the grip-level is fantastic, the run-off areas seem to be good, and the kerbs are probably the best of any circuit we visit.’
Hamilton’s team-mate Jenson Button was also impressed.
‘I really like this circuit. It’s great fun to drive. There are some tough corners, but there’s also a lot of high-speed stuff and it feels a lot faster than we initially thought it would,’ he said.
