Indian GP Contract Signed

[Harakimi]

Bernie Ecclestone confirmed today that the first ever GP in India is planned to be held near New Delhi in 2010.

“India has always been known for its love of cricket, but F1 has been growing hugely in popularity in recent years as the viewing figures would suggest. Now with Vijay Mallya’s team, Force India, and the news that Karun Chandhok could soon be driving in F1, the announcement of the future Grand Prix in India will spark an explosion of further interest to rival that of the traditional sport.”

I bet Herman Tilke is rubbing his hands at the moment. On the other hand I'd like to see more "traditional" layout of the track than these current ones he's been making.

[EIR Loe.307]

So I guess India is a bigger F1 market than the US??? Way to go India but this still pisses me off. (That they abandoned the USGP)

[JoStream]

Even though the contract has been signed, I find it hard to believe that this project will become successful especially from an economic point of view...

I bet Herman Tilke is rubbing his hands at the moment. On the other hand I'd like to see more "traditional" layout of the track than these current ones he's been making.

I'm really sick of Tilke. What F1 needs is fresh blood in its circuit designs. No matter how creative he is, there will always be similarities to previous circuits he has done. I have a hard time believing he is the only one capable of designing an F1 circuit :rolleyes:

[EIR Loe.307]

I'm really sick of Tilke. What F1 needs is fresh blood in its circuit designs. No matter how creative he is, there will always be similarities to previous circuits he has done. I have a hard time believing he is the only one capable of designing an F1 circuit :rolleyes:

I agree. As much as I like some of his stuff, there needs to be less monopoly in F1 (all of F1). I hope there are some elevation changes and not alot of sand like at Bahrain. Plant some grass already!! :lol:

[DarkLord]

Even though the contract has been signed, I find it hard to believe that this project will become successful especially from an economic point of view...


I disagree. If it fails it will not be due to economic point of view, it will be due to beurocracy. There are many big corporate houses are willing to support F1.. Mallaya owns a liquer company and an Airlines..If F1 comes to india then bigger corporates will start to take interest in F1 seeing earning potential of it.

[EIR Loe.307]

I disagree. If it fails it will not be due to economic point of view, it will be due to beurocracy. There are many big corporate houses are willing to support F1.. Mallaya owns a liquer company and an Airlines..If F1 comes to india then bigger corporates will start to take interest in F1 seeing earning potential of it.

Ya, a country with that many people should be able to pull in the $$ from somewhere. At least you would think so. :rolleyes:

[Harakimi]

Economics in India is booming so I think that side won't be the problem. The nature itself is very different in India than in Bahrain so I can promise you Eir that the track area won't look like a sandbox. :lol:

[DarkLord]

The track is proposed to be built near Capital New Delhi (within 50 Kms). State govt of Delhi is also providing support to the bid

[JoStream]

Economics in India is booming so I think that side won't be the problem.

Ya, a country with that many people should be able to pull in the $$ from somewhere.

I disagree. If it fails it will not be due to economic point of view, it will be due to beurocracy. There are many big corporate houses are willing to support F1.. Mallaya owns a liqueur company and an Airlines..If F1 comes to india then bigger corporates will start to take interest in F1 seeing earning potential of it.

Sure you may get the money for the track together, but many people in India will wonder why this money (and it's a lot of money) isn't going to improving their living conditions. We are not talking about unemployment rates. We are talking about 77% of the population living under half a dollar per day in abject poverty :mad:

The economic reforms in the 90s helped India become an economic power of sorts, but this has yet to affect the lower classes in society. I'm sure that they did their homework, and projected ROI is probably worth the effort, but still how will that look like? :rolleyes:

[EIR Loe.307]

We are talking about 77% of the population living under half a dollar per day in abject poverty :mad:

WOW!! That high?? Hard to buy tickets if you can't buy food. And yet still no USGP! :rolleyes:

[Harakimi]

Well that is something that unfortunetaly will never change, there will always be poverty in India, well atleast for next 500 years if the mankind survives that long. :wonder:

[DarkLord]

Well that is something that unfortunetaly will never change, there will always be poverty in India, well atleast for next 500 years if the mankind survives that long. :wonder:

Agreed that there is poverty but the statistics which you are quoting are atleast 5-10 years old. It is collective failure of all the govts in past 60 years that they are not able to do something about it. Any way i m not much into economics so i can not discuss that :o

I guess in F1 or any other sport there is a simple rule if you can afford the ticket you will go to watch it. It will be the case here also. I have seen many people are willing to travel to delhi just to watch F1 for a day from Mumbai/Banglore/Chennai...

[NetOz]

i hope that Tilke its not on top of this circuit project. i dont like his circuits, Turkey and China are good circuits but the rest :stop:.

[JoStream]

Agreed that there is poverty but the statistics which you are quoting are atleast 5-10 years old. It is collective failure of all the govts in past 60 years that they are not able to do something about it. Any way i m not much into economics so i can not discuss that :o

I guess in F1 or any other sport there is a simple rule if you can afford the ticket you will go to watch it. It will be the case here also. I have seen many people are willing to travel to delhi just to watch F1 for a day from Mumbai/Banglore/Chennai...

I really disagree with you Darklord. The situation is much more complex than you think. Will there be high ROI or profit as a result of the Indian GP? I'm sure there will be, that's probably what they have been studying for the past five years. Will it be higher than say, the US GP (as EIR already pointed out) could have been if the Michelin Scandal had not occurred? I strongly believe no.

But it is also a question of social responsibility. When there are so many people that are poor, we're talking the 'What am I going to it today' kind of poor, then a certain percentage of sales or profit should be used to help them. Then it makes sense :rolleyes:.

The statistic I quoted is actually fresh out of oven, published earlier this summer :thumbsup:

It will be interesting to see whether they can sustain it over the years. The Indian Government cannot be used as a reliable long-term financial source :stop:

[EIR Loe.307]

The Indian Government cannot be used as a reliable long-term financial source :stop:

I agree. If the poverty situation is that bad then the Indian Govt. shouldn't be contributing ANY $$ to F1. I'm not saying that India shouldn't have a GP, just that you have to set your priorities. Also like you said (Jo) if the $$$ is going to help the Indian economy and provide jobs (at least during construction and events) then it may be good to have it there. I don't really know how much boost F1 brings to town but in the US when you get a superbowl it's a huge $$$ deal. All the hotels (which may need to be built) and all the tourist $$ and all the temp. jobs for the event. (Hell here in Houston we had hookers coming from all over the US, it was that big):lol:

[Blazing Lion]

Economics in India is booming so I think that side won't be the problem. The nature itself is very different in India than in Bahrain so I can promise you Eir that the track area won't look like a sandbox. :lol:

You are right.Money would not be the main problem but if the government in power changes then it can be a problem because the new govt. may stop the work that previous govt. had started.:banghead:

The track is proposed to be built near Capital New Delhi (within 50 Kms). State govt of Delhi is also providing support to the bid

Ya the track will be built near the National Capital New Delhi in a nearby town NOIDA which is located in the state Uttar Pradesh. It will be easy for me to go to the Grand Prix when it will be held
because I live in the National Capital.

[CWBeattie]

India has lots of money, they can afford nukes!

[EIR Loe.307]

India has lots of money, they can afford nukes!

Nukes aren't all that expensive. Most of India is at or below the poverty level. And not the poverty like in the US and Canada, 3rd world type poverty.

[Radar]

India does have the money to run a formula 1 team. While the country does have alot of people living below the poverty line, it still has enough people who can afford to go. The question really is are there enough people interested in the sport to make in viable.

In another sport that I follow closer than moter sport, cricket, India is one of the power makers of the sport because of the money it has and the money generated from India is the only thing that helps countries like New Zealand survive in the sport.

The comments that India could change goverment, well that could happen to any country.

I do wish that USA had a GP but not on the Indianapolis circuit.;)

[EIR Loe.307]

My point was more that India should be spending more $$ at home to improve the lives of it's people. A better country would be Dubai. They have more $$ than they know what to do with. :lol:

Of course, many people make the argument that F1 in India would bring in $$. That may be true in the short term but not stabilized income. Look at when a Superbowl comes to town. Butt loads of $$ come in but only for that week and then it's gone.

[JoStream]

My point was more that India should be spending more $$ at home to improve the lives of it's people. A better country would be Dubai. They have more $$ than they know what to do with. :lol:

Exactly! This is why Dubai is building a circuit, and I think Saudi Arabia (although there would be political obstacles, as an influx of foreigners or tourists is not seen as positive), Kuwait, Qatar and Oman should join. They can afford to build state-of-the-art (literally) circuits :D

[Radar]

My point was more that India should be spending more $$ at home to improve the lives of it's people. A better country would be Dubai. They have more $$ than they know what to do with. :lol:

Of course, many people make the argument that F1 in India would bring in $$. That may be true in the short term but not stabilized income. Look at when a Superbowl comes to town. Butt loads of $$ come in but only for that week and then it's gone.

I agree with you that India should be doing more to improve the poverty issues. By hosting a formula 1 race, more international media will be in India and they will report not on just what is going on in the race but will look at what is going on inside the country including what India is doing to improve itself. With media talking about what is going on to my mind means more pressure for India to improve.

[JoStream]

I agree with you that India should be doing more to improve the poverty issues. By hosting a formula 1 race, more international media will be in India and they will report not on just what is going on in the race but will look at what is going on inside the country including what India is doing to improve itself. With media talking about what is going on to my mind means more pressure for India to improve.

That is a good advantage of hosting the race I guess. But with the short-term memory of the media it will probably not last.

Your cricket example was great though, but I'm skeptical that India has an equivalent, or even comparable fan base :wonder:

[Ryan]

My point was more that India should be spending more $$ at home to improve the lives of it's people. A better country would be Dubai. They have more $$ than they know what to do with. :lol:


Beijing Olympics anyone???:wonder: