German architects to prepare masterplan for India's F1 track

[Flintlock]

German architects to prepare masterplan for India's F1 track
8 Oct, 2007, 1212 hrs IST, PTI

CHENNAI: Two German architects will next week visit New Delhi to prepare a master plan for the country's first-ever Formula One track, according to Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said although venue for the race was not finalised yet, he was confident India would host the race in next couple of years.

"Bringing F1 is not a simple matter but we are very confident," said Kalmadi at the prize disribution ceremony for the JK Tyres National Road Racing Championhips yesterday.

"We have got an F1 racer in Narain Karthikeyan and now Vijay Mallya is heading an F1 team so it is a natural progression that we should have an F1 track now.

"We have two German architects visiting New Delhi next week to prepare a master plan for the F1 track," he said.

Venues on the outskirts of Delhi -- in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh -- have been recently inspected by F1 officials but "nothing has been finalised about any particular site," Kalmadi said.

"We are in negotation with the governments of both the states," he said adding "we also welcome private companies".

 

[Flintlock]

Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, October 06, 2007
First Published: 14:46 IST(6/10/2007)
Last Updated: 15:13 IST(6/10/2007)
Vijay Mallya to add local flavour to Orange IndiaBusiness tycoon Vijay Mallya, who has completed 88 million euro deal to acquire 50 per cent stakes in Spyker-Ferrari Formula One, plans to give his team an Indian flavour, although he is yet to confirm a name or driver line-up for 2008.

"I have talked to Dr Mallya this morning but will be able to give more details about anything regarding the deal only after this weekend," said a spokesperson from the Orange India Holdings, the joint consortium formed by Mallya and Dutch entrepreneur Michiel Mol, who has remaining 50 percent stakes.

Mallya will be busy in attending the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai this weekend.

The liquor baron, before completing the official documentation with the Spyker team, had admitted India had "robust basis" to acquire the deal with names like Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok but refused to comment on the likely composition of his 2008 team.

"We do have two Indian drivers with Karthikeyan and Chandok, but it is too early to say if one of them will be chosen, so I will not make any comments on that...

"An Indian team with an Indian driver would be the ideal combination," he said adding that "in the future I will look very carefully into our karting championship to identify talents that can be developed into potential candidates for the team."

The Mallya-Mol consortium becomes the former Jordan team's third owner in just three years. The Midland group took over in 2005, before selling the squad on to Spyker late last year. Five directors will be appointed with three from Mallya group and two by the Mol family.
HindustanTimes-Print
© Copyright 2007 Hindustan Times

 

[Flintlock]

The Spyker team is crappy actually....but who gives a damn!! I'm cheering for Spyker!!

 

[solid snake]

India is a good market for the F1 sport.

 

[roadrunner]

F1 has become all money and hype now. There was a time when Grand Prix drivers were paid pittance, took more risks, ending up being killed, and generally were much better sportsmen. Now it's all whinging, whining, the man who'll bring in the most money getting the top drives, and world champions who are very average. The last great era of F1 was probably the end of the eighties. India will probably have an F1 champion in 20 years or so. But he won't even necessarily need the skill of Karthekayen who could barely score a point in any Grand Prix.

 

[Bull]

F1 has become all money and hype now. There was a time when Grand Prix drivers were paid pittance, took more risks, ending up being killed, and generally were much better sportsmen. Now it's all whinging, whining, the man who'll bring in the most money getting the top drives, and world champions who are very average. The last great era of F1 was probably the end of the eighties. India will probably have an F1 champion in 20 years or so. But he won't even necessarily need the skill of Karthekayen who could barely score a point in any Grand Prix.

Thats nonsense. Getting killed is no fun. This years F1 had lots of drama and some very good attacking driving. And its the first time after 1986 that we have 3 drivers going into the last race with a equal chance to win. I miss montoya-schumi rivalry though.

 

[Flintlock]

F1 has become all money and hype now. There was a time when Grand Prix drivers were paid pittance, took more risks, ending up being killed, and generally were much better sportsmen. Now it's all whinging, whining, the man who'll bring in the most money getting the top drives, and world champions who are very average. The last great era of F1 was probably the end of the eighties. India will probably have an F1 champion in 20 years or so. But he won't even necessarily need the skill of Karthekayen who could barely score a point in any Grand Prix.

So you would prefer if the sport was more dangerous?

The F1 Championship is called the "Constructor's Championship" for a reason. The best car with the best driver wins. It was never based purely on the driver's skill. IF that was true, all teams would have identical cars.

And what may I ask is wrong with the money? They will probably end up with much more capable drivers that way.

But its always nice to have a cynic in the room!!

 

[roadrunner]

Thats nonsense. Getting killed is no fun. This years F1 had lots of drama and some very good attacking driving. And its the first time after 1986 that we have 3 drivers going into the last race with a equal chance to win. I miss montoya-schumi rivalry though.

Dude, I'm not talking about the odd close season where it goes down to the wire. You can have close competition. But the quality of the drivers has decreased and decreased steadily is my point (all due to the sport turning more into a business)

 

[roadrunner]

So you would prefer if the sport was more dangerous?

The F1 Championship is called the "Constructor's Championship" for a reason. The best car with the best driver wins. It was never based purely on the driver's skill. IF that was true, all teams would have identical cars.

And what may I ask is wrong with the money? They will probably end up with much more capable drivers that way.

But its always nice to have a cynic in the room!!

I'd prefer the sport to be more about the best drivers, rather than the commercial bs that they're trying to sell nowadays. It's a fact that driving an F1 care in the 50s-70s was much more dangerous, and these drivers were paid a lot less, because it wasnt an all-out business back then. It was driving as a passion. Now you get the fruitloops who just want to make big money.

It's just one of those things..a bit like Miss Worlds The differences between the teams wasn't so large early on in F1.

 

[Flintlock]

Dude, I'm not talking about the odd close season where it goes down to the wire. You can have close competition. But the quality of the drivers has decreased and decreased steadily is my point (all due to the sport turning more into a business)

RR, I think sport has pretty much always been a busines since the 19th century. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

[Flintlock]

I'd prefer the sport to be more about the best drivers, rather than the commercial bs that they're trying to sell nowadays. It's a fact that driving an F1 care in the 50s-70s was much more dangerous, and these drivers were paid a lot less, because it wasnt an all-out business back then.

It's just one of those things..a bit like Miss Worlds The differences between the teams wasn't so large early on in F1.

I don't get you. What is wrong if its a big business. Isn't it good that the drivers are being paid well?

But yeah I agree. There should be more competition. I think F1 has realised this and recently changed the rules to make it easier for other teams to win inspite of having worse car technology, which explains why Ferrari lost its dominance.

Also about the danger part...I understand that crashes are a lot more fun to watch....but you would seriously prefer if there were more of them?

 

[roadrunner]

RR, I think sport has pretty much always been a busines since the 19th century. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Sport does have an element of business. But when business determines the outcome of the results, that's when the sport becomes a business. It is better it remains a sport and doesnt cross the barrier.

 

[roadrunner]

I don't get you. What is wrong if its a big business. Isn't it good that the drivers are being paid well?

Also about the danger part...I understand that crashes are a lot more fun to watch....but you would seriously prefer if there were more of them?

I didn't say i wanted more of the crashes as part of F1. I said it's a fact the drivers of the 50s were a lot more braver, had more crashes and were paid less in F1 then.

 

[Bull]

Dude, I'm not talking about the odd close season where it goes down to the wire. You can have close competition. But the quality of the drivers has decreased and decreased steadily is my point (all due to the sport turning more into a business)

Why do you say that?

 

[Flintlock]

Sport does have an element of business. But when business determines the outcome of the results, that's when the sport becomes a business. It is better it remains a sport and doesnt cross the barrier.

Oh...well unless the races are fixed, I don't see business determining the results....

Dude sport today exists because of the business. Cricket football etc. are big businesses...