Not quite on track

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: It is a warm and sunny day in New Delhi. Track temperature is 35 degrees centigrade. The weather forecast has ruled out any chance of rain. The race track is state-of-the-art and the newly-built stadium is filled to the brim with fans converging from all over India and abroad — ideal conditions for the start of Formula One (F1) race. The 22 cars belonging to the 11 teams have done their test lap. Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa have taken their place in the starting grid. Five red lights switch on and go off. The cars roar to life sending the decibel level in the air to over 130. India’s first Formula One Grand Prix is under way…

This could well become a reality if Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi manages to translate his words into action and the prayers of thousands of F1 fans in the country are answered.

On June 14, Kalmadi stunned the nation by announcing that India will have its first F1 Grand Prix at New Delhi in 2009. He said that the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), F1’s governing body, has made a conditional offer to IOA for hosting the race in the capital on a newly-designed track and stadium. The funding for creating this infrastructure would come from the private sector and the government, he said. IOA now has time till September 20, 2007 to draw up a blueprint and convince the F1 organisers that it has the necessary wherewithal to raise funds and build the required infrastructure.

“It is a matter of pride for the nation and a big step towards placing India as a true sporting destination,’’ a beaming Kalmadi said.

It is well known that FIA has been keen to add India to the F1 calendar. The reasons are not too difficult to find. More and more youngsters in India are hooking on to the game as seen from the huge TV audience for the sport. The demographic profile is heavily tilted in favour of the youth with over half the population below the age of 35 years. Moreover, incomes are soaring and the economy is booming like never before. There is a lot of money to be made here.