Unlike a few years ago when one could only dream of having an Indian in a Formula 1 racing event, the ball has already been set rolling with Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula 1 racer who participated in the event in 2005. While this spells good news for most racing enthusiasts, the race is far from over for the Indians who wish to compete in formula 1 racing in fact it has just begun.
Most youngsters, who dream of making it big in Formula 1 racing need to know that unfortunate as it may be racing and even practicing for it needs a lot of money. In fact as most racing champions will tell you they have spent quite huge sums of money before making a name for themselves. In India, the training for Formula 1 racing may start with Go-Karting after which one may graduate to local racing and then championships like Formula India, Formula Asia, the Formula 3, Formula 3000, etc. You need to keep aside at least 25,000 for the initial training and then at least Rs 3000-5000 for participating in each race.
Though the most famous and well known names in Indian Formula 1 racing today is undoubtedly Narain Karthikeyan, there are many others who are gearing up quite close to him. Karun Chandhok, Parthiva Sureshwaran and Asif Nazir are names that have made us proud in the racing circuit too. Gauging the enthusiasm for Formula1 racing in India, Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1 racing Management head, says that according to him India could soon be a Formula One destination, he also added that it would be ‘ideal to have an Indian competing in the World championship’.
According to the President and CEO of F1 Management, Chennai based Karun Chandhok could be the second Indian after Narain Karthikeyan to have a Formula 1 racing seat. This could mean immense good news for all Formula 1 racing enthusiasts who would also like to see the championship brought to India. In the same vein one hears of Dr Vijay Mallya, racing enthusiast and chairman of United Breweries group, being roped in for spearheading the job of bringing Formula 1 racing to India. In a statement last month, Dr Mallya said that he would meet Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in trying to install a racing track in Delhi.
This can spell nothing but good news for all Formula 1 racing enthusiasts, since the trend will also bring about more sponsorship to the Indian leg of the sport. Narain Karthikeyan is sponsored by the Tata business group and Bharat Petroleum Corporation, it is a sure boost to many such youngsters who can plan their racing carriers in Formula 1 racing in the years to come.
Formula 1 racing enjoys quite a huge fan following in our country, the success of an Indian driver in this tournament can only add to the enthusiasm of the fast zipping sport in the Indian tracks.
