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India's motor sports officials and
media on Friday reacted with scepticism and bemusement at the
news that the country may hold a Formula One race in 2009.
A disbelieving Indian Express said
it was "a bit difficult to digest" that the race could be held
in New Delhi so soon without the necessary infrastructure
already in place.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
president Suresh Kalmadi announced on Thursday a deal had been
clinched with F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone to hold a
Grand Prix event in two years time.
The IOA has until September 30
to convince the F1 organisers that it can build the necessary
infrastructure and raise funds, estimated to cost about 300
million dollars, before a formal contract is signed.
"We are enthusiastic about
holding F1 races," said Kalmadi. "We are capable enough to raise
the money. We have done it in the past. We will do it again."
But the country's media and
motor sports officials remained sceptical.
"A dream coming true or just
tall claims?," asked the Indian Express.
"This formula of the Indian
Olympic Association was a bit difficult to digest when it was
unfolded today," the paper wrote.
"If something seems too good to
be true, it probably is."
Indian motor sport chief Rajat
Majumdar said: "Maybe Kalmadi can explain it better how he plans
to do this or what blueprint he has with him."
Narain Karthikeyan, India's
first and only F1 driver who drove for Jordan in 2005, said "it
all boiled down to funds and the right infrastructure."
"It's fantastic news," said
Karthikeyan. "It will do great things for motor sports in India.
Bernie has been interested in India for a long time.
"If the government is behind it,
there is no reason why we should not have a Grand Prix in 2009."
Karthikeyan was, however,
surprised that the IOA planned to construct a F1 track as well
as a brand new stadium in New Delhi, instead of a Monaco-style
street circuit that will cost less.
"It's a huge task to undertake,"
he said. "They have two years to build a stadium from scratch.
Given the time constraint, the best solution would have been to
prepare a street circuit."
Kalmadi said funds will be
raised from the private sector and the government for the
infrastructure, similar to what the IOA is doing to build
facilities for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.
Many wondered why the country's
Olympic officials wanted to involve themselves in a Grand Prix
event.
"It's strange because a National
Olympic Committee in F1 is unheard of," said veteran motor
sports official Nazir Hossain.
Federal sports minister Mani
Shankar Aiyar, a vocal critic of holding expensive international
sporting events in the country, has so far declined to comment
on the IOA's plans.
There has been heightened
interest in F1 racing in India after Karthikeyan hit the tracks
on the back of Indian sponsorship reportedly worth 10 million
dollars.
Millions of Indians watch races
on television, often with the same passion they reserve for the
country's most popular sport -- cricket.
In the 17-race calendar for
2007, four were given to the Asia-Pacific region -- Melbourne,
Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and the Fuji Speedway in Japan. Singapore
will get a race in 2008 and South Korea in 2010. |
