F1 track plans back on course
Business Standard — March 23, 2005

With Narain Karthikeyan emerging as India’s first Formula 1 (F1) driver, plans to build an F1 track in India have received a fresh lease of life. The Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi today said that the government would firm up plans of putting India on the world F1 map within six months. When this dream becomes a reality, India would be among the 20 elite nations that boast of an F1track. Although motorsport is not an Olympic event, Kalmadi has been championing the cause of India playing host to the F1 races for a long time.

Speaking at meet organised by JK Industries to celebrate Karthikeyan’s entry into the F1 circuit, Kalmadi said, “Three states have already evinced interest in setting up an F1 track. We hope to have one before the Commonwealth Games come to India. Plans should be firmed up in the next six months.” Kalmadi said he was in talks with the Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi government for putting up an F1 track in these states. Talks of setting up the F1 track in India first surfaced in 2003 when former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu had expressed his desire to have the circuit in Hyderabad.

After Naidu failed to return to power in the 2004 Assembly elections, the new government did not show much enthusiasm for the project. The entry of Karthikeyan into the world’s most coveted motorsport and the subsequent F1 fever built up in the country, has led policy makers to revisit the subject. Sources in the racing circuit said that the cost of building an F1 track would be Rs 400 crore.