Official Preview of the Indian GP track.

[vcs316]

New Delhi: The race track for next year’s Indian GP will be one of the fastest in the world, the organisers of the nation’s first Formula One race said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Greater Noida, some 50 kilometres from the capital, where the construction of the 5.14 kilometres race track would be completed by the middle of next year, the vice president (operations) of JayPee Sports International (JPSI), Mark Hughes said: “It will be one of the fastest circuits and will pose great challenge for the drivers.”

“It was a flat land and we moved some four million cubic tons of earth to bring in elevation which can be up to 14 metres. The drivers are all excited. It’s wild at that point. One mistake and you will be out of the race,” Hughes said.

The 2011 F1 season will start with the Bahrain GP on March 13 and will conclude on November 27 with the Brazilian GP.

“From the first turn to the third, the track goes up 14 metres, which will give a challenge to drivers. Turn No. 10 and 11 are very fast corners and cars will move 200 kilometres per hour in these courses,” Hughes added.

The track will have 16 turns and would need superb skills to negotiate, said Hughes. The ongoing construction work is being carried out as per the guidelines set by the FIA.

The organisers have taken great pains in designing the track and inputs from some of the top Formula One teams and drivers were incorporated in the final plan.

“So far, (Hispania driver) Karun Chandhok has visited the track but over the next 12 months, we will invite some other Formula One drivers. (Force India chairman) Vijay (Mallya) is interested too as it would be their home track,” Hughes said.

Boris Lazaric, who is in-charge of the construction work, said the facility would accommodate 100,000-plus spectators. “The main grand stand will house 20,000, the temporary grand stands will accommodate 70,000, while another 5000-6000 can sit in the pit building. Besides, there will be three natural grand stands, which are basically hillocks where people can sit and watch.”

The race allotted to India is subject to FIA homologation but Hughes is confident that world governing body (FIA) will approve the circuit.

Homologation is the approval process a race track must go through to be part of a league or series. The regulations and rules that must be met are generally set by the series’ sanctioning body — in this case the FIA.

“Homologation process is not (a matter of) one day. It takes a number of weeks. It will happen in May next year. The FIA team will come and verify if the work has been done according to the design approved by them.

“There is a specific set of guidelines and they follow it strictly. They will see safety measures and if they are happy, it (homologation) is over,” Hughes said.

Asked how only one race in a year would make the project commercially viable, the managing director JPSI, Sameer Gaur said his company has planned to open a racing school and academy so that the youngsters can come forward to take up the sport.

Gaur said that his company would conduct MotoGP races at the same place where the Formula One event will take place.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100911/jsp/sports/story_12922837.jsp

[Stormsearcher]

This is so cool. :-) Finally one i can go and see. :wave

[gvsnraju85]

I will definitely be there next year :D.......Maybe all TSn members from India can plan to meet and watch together

[vcs316]

Count me in !

[gvsnraju85]

Wow this looks Gr8 we are more than a year away and we are already 3 of us:

1. vcs316
2. NJB13: Has a 60% probability of coming
3. gvsnraju85 (this is me) :P . I have a 90% probability of coming.


I am really hoping for more guys to reply.

Stormsearcher:: what about you dude??


Can i have real names plz??? I am Raju btw :D

[Stormsearcher]

Of course am in. :-)
i wanna go to the ferrari garage and shoot a pic with Nando and felipe too. :-D

[neermsc]

i am coming!!!!!!!!:)

[Greig]

sounds good, India has such a massive F1 fanbase should be a great event :-)

[vcs316]

sounds good, India has such a massive F1 fanbase should be a great event :-)

You have no idea G how much I have been waiting for an Indian GP!! Its gonna be fantastic!! :-)

[gvsnraju85]

Of course am in. :-)
i wanna go to the ferrari garage and shoot a pic with Nando and felipe too. :-D

Ohh thats will be costly.....not sure i can afford that...A Pit Pass is definitely out of my reach.....unless i get to make some friends in Media.......

[gvsnraju85]

sounds good, India has such a massive F1 fanbase should be a great event :-)

i am not sure how much Fan following India actually has but i definitely sure it will be much better than in China where most of the stands are empty.........and i suspect that most of the fans are new and support will be for Force India..........but the beauty is that even if people do not understand the sport in depth they will turn out in large nos.....be it due to curiosity or whatever reason........Last year Red Bull did a road show in Mumbai and McLaren did one in Chennai, Renault in Delhi and all were a huge success....for the the Rebull's show in mumbai there was a turn out of 15000-20000 people approx.....now compare that to the Grand Stand Capacity of the Actual venue itself (100000).....i think we are definitely going to have a House Full and a block buster of a weekend.......I hoope to meet as many of you as possible :-D

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/10/10070.html
http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Video/Red-Bull-F1-Racing-Car-Show-Run-Mumbai-021242813052655
http://www.eventfaqs.com/newsletter_data/Magazines/Vol1Iss16/PDFs/36-48.pdf

[Hornet]

Nice to see they are trying to make some elevation
The last thing we need is another dead flat track

Looking forward to seeing the track design :-D

[vcs316]

Track Design:

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/1517/58562formula1season2010.jpg

http://www.motorbeam.com/wp-content/uploads/3D_INDIA_GP_TRACK.jpg

[NJB13]

Track looks interesting, one obvious/definite passing spot and 2 others possibly, need to see though.
I like the dip and rise on the long back straight. I can't wait to see it in reality, but, I think it will be something special with a packed house (I'm sure they'll achieve that) with plenty screaming for Force India. Imagine if they gave Karun a drive next year. I'd settle for a Ferrari 1-2 and a Force India on the podium with us.

[bkircher]

I think Tilkes USGP track design is better imo, but it would be nice to see some shorter tracks added to the calander, it seems like all the ones that have been added lately have been 2.5 plus miles long.

[gvsnraju85]

Track looks interesting, one obvious/definite passing spot and 2 others possibly, need to see though.
I like the dip and rise on the long back straight. I can't wait to see it in reality, but, I think it will be something special with a packed house (I'm sure they'll achieve that) with plenty screaming for Force India. Imagine if they gave Karun a drive next year. I'd settle for a Ferrari 1-2 and a Force India on the podium with us.

Force India cars work better on low downforce tracks and this one has a few straights and a few high speed turns...lets see.....but it will definitely help Vijay Mallya get some more sponsors. Right now force India seems to get almost all of its sponsorships from his UB Group firms. How about getting Pepsi/Coke to sponsor or may be Sahara.......these guys sponsor cricket like hell.....how about a liitle for Motor sports too??

[NJB13]

Force India cars work better on low downforce tracks and this one has a few straights and a few high speed turns...lets see.....but it will definitely help Vijay Mallya get some more sponsors. Right now force India seems to get almost all of its sponsorships from his UB Group firms. How about getting Pepsi/Coke to sponsor or may be Sahara.......these guys sponsor cricket like hell.....how about a liitle for Motor sports too??

How about some for us :pray and by some I mean a lot :thumb

[gvsnraju85]

How about some for us :pray and by some I mean a lot :thumb

Ferrari already has a lot of sponsorship and and with the resource restriction coming into play they might not even be able to spend all of it :)

FI is a different story thou

[Stormsearcher]

Ohh thats will be costly.....not sure i can afford that...A Pit Pass is definitely out of my reach.....unless i get to make some friends in Media.......

Oh dam. :roll .. i didnt know we had to pay for that. :-D... thot being TSN members, we get automatic entry.

[Stormsearcher]

The track looks damn long though. It says 5 kms.. isnt an avg track around 3.5 kms?

[siberianlady]

Looks interesting!
If you want to get into the paddock then maybe you should join FOFA- we got peeps into 5 paddocks this year so we'll see what happens next year...........- had a great time in Spa!

[Ferrari575]

Hey Guys I came across this on you tube. Looks like it will be a good track. What do you guys think ?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwoirBdfAV0&feature=player_embedded

[Tifoso]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing!

Why is the final corner growing grass, though? :Hmm

[xpman]

i see this and all am thinking of is TRON lol:)

[Tony]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing!

Why is the final corner growing grass, though? :Hmm

It's to stop Hamilton from flying off the track :-D

[Tifoso]

It's to stop Hamilton from flying off the track :-D

:lol :-D

[Rishu]

Thanks for sharing :thumb
I have never watched a F1 race from the circuit, this will be my opportunity :-)
Looks like a medium downforce circuit, should suit Ferrari. I hope to see Alonso, Massa & Chandhok on the podium :-D

[gvsnraju85]

Thanks for sharing :thumb
I have never watched a F1 race from the circuit, this will be my opportunity :-)
Looks like a medium downforce circuit, should suit Ferrari. I hope to see Alonso, Massa & Chandhok on the podium :-D

Same here..this would e my 1st live F1 experience.......yeah i too wanty to have ferrari on the podium....but chandhok???? in case u havnt realised he does not even have a race seat........Force India could be a better bet.

[Ferrari575]

You are welcome guys. I was thinking the same thing, the Karan Chandok narration is just nothing lol , at least Narain Karthikeyan would have sounded hilarious. Hope the track turns out as good as it looks in the renderings.

[Rishu]

Same here..this would e my 1st live F1 experience.......yeah i too wanty to have ferrari on the podium....but chandhok???? in case u havnt realised he does not even have a race seat........Force India could be a better bet.

Sure he does'nt have a race seat, but he is confident of racing in the Indian GP (http://ndtv.f1pulse.com/news/Chandhok_rules_out_2011_with_Force_India/news-2010-december-news_20101221_54/news_article.aspx) I don't know hows that possible !!
I believe the guy has lot of talent & can stand on podium if provided with a competetive car :-)

[vcs316]

Construction on track in India for inaugural GP

Construction work on the venue for this year's inaugural Indian Grand Prix outside New Delhi is continuing apace, with news that the first gravel layer has already been laid on the 5.14km circuit. The Indian Grand Prix is not being held until October 30th, but already the main grandstands have been erected with the next layer of the track surface due to be added soon.

A report in India's Mail Today newspaper on Wednesday revealed that above normal monsoon rains had affected the construction schedule at the Greater Noida venue, but work is still on target to be completed in time. Over 4,000 workers have been drafted to ensure completion of the track which will hold 120,000 spectators.

A final inspection of the circuit is due in July, 90 days before the Grand Prix, but the track is scheduled to be finished by May. Race organisers Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) will pay approximately €170m ($220m) for construction of the track as part of a larger €675m ($885m) sports complex. Race sanctioning fees come in at €30m ($40m) for the first year of the 10-year agreement to host the race.

Wednesday's news will come as a relief to Formula One's stakeholders after major embarrassment was narrowly averted last year with the inaugural Korean Grand Prix. Construction delays meant the race was in doubt just days before it was due to go ahead, and work was still ongoing at the venue in the hours leading up to the first on-track action, a scenario the sport hopes to avoid when visiting India in late October. The race ultimately ran without a hitch.

“Its one of the best tracks with ample opportunities to overtake. There will be a good challenge to the drivers,” Boris Lazaris, chief operating officer (construction) told Mail Today. “As for construction, everything is going as per schedule.”

The track, known as the Jaypee Group Circuit, is located 38 km south-east of India's capital city New Delhi, near the town of Greater Noida. JPSI are organising the entire event, from circuit construction to race promotion.

http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/11809/

[Tifosi]

Why is the final corner growing grass, though? :Hmm

That's where Petrov carved up the infield on his installation lap.


Great video btw. :-)

[Greig]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/250102/karthikeyan-springs-surprise-with-hrt-deal/

Karthikeyan will make his F1 comeback next season following news that he has inked a deal to race with Hispania. The Indian, who last competed at the top level back in 2005 with Jordan and who tested for Williams in 2006 and 2007, confirmed the development via Twitter.

“[I’m] back in F1 in 2011,” he wrote. “[I’ve] signed a deal to race for HRT. I’ve always maintained that my time in F1 was not over and now I’m making good on that promise.

“I’ve worked really hard to come back to F1 and it will be a dream come true to race in front of my home crowd in the Indian GP in October.

“I’m looking forward to the Indian public spurring me on with their blessings and good wishes. [I will be] ramping up my fitness regime now - big time. I see plenty of hours in the gym in the near future.”

Speaking to The Times of India, he added: "It has been a while in the making, but I am delighted to be racing again in Formula 1 in 2011.

“I am confident that I have the pace, the fitness and the will to succeed. I am extremely grateful to the Tata Group, without whose unwavering support, this comeback would not have been possible.

"I'm looking forward to racing for HRT, and to working again with Dr Colin Kolles [Team Principal at HRT]. We have a long standing and excellent working relationship together.”

During his time in the F1 wilderness, Karthikeyan competed in A1 GP, winning twice for A1 Team India. He has also raced at Le Mans, in NASCAR and the Superleague Formula.

Hispania Racing meanwhile has yet to put out any official statement in relation to its 2011 driver line-up.

[gvsnraju85]

Narayan Karthikeyan Back in F1 via HRT. I hope to see him race in the Indian GP. Hope HRT dont juggle drivers the way they did last year....it would be great if Karun too finds a drive :-D.....the 2nd driver position is still open in HRT and Karun did a fine job as a driver last year...considering that he had no practice under his belt and debuted directly on the track for the quali in Bahrain....fingers crossed...now we have an Indian Team and an Indian driver....enough to get full grand stands for the India GP........and for the rest we have the Ferrari fans......yipeeeeeeee