Motor Racing

'Buddh track will be demanding on the drivers'

A visit to the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, which will host the country's first Formula One Grand Prix next Sunday, was an exhilarating experience.

For months, there was speculation if this circuit would ever be ready in time. Added to it were wild stories in sections of the media which said things were not in place, though more of it had to do with the civil work and not the track itself.

Last week, when JP Sports, the organisers, decided to invite the media and throw open the complex, it was indeed fascinating. There was no censorship like we faced during the Commonwealth Games last year when the venues were guarded like Fort Knox.

And finally when the Commonwealth Games Village's conducted tour did take place, it only made things worse as pictures of rooms with plumbing leaks and so on made headlines in print and television.

To be fair to JP Sports, they have done a great job. And they had no hesitation in taking every single reporter, photographer and cameraman for a tour of the 5.14km track in brand new Mercedes cars. Those not so lucky were asked to board buses as the caravan did a full lap of the track.

It was a fantastic ride and worth every twist and turn. When you watch an F1 event live, at most you will see two corners and then a straight with the speed demons going over 300kmph.

And if you happen to watch the race on television, despite several cameras mapping every inch of the action, you never get the real feel. Firstly, the high decibel effect is missing and then you can't really relate to the speed at which cars are eating up the miles.

The technicalities of the Buddh track are fascinating. It has been built by German Hermann Tilke, who is the master in this business. The beauty of this track is its uniqueness in several aspects. And what caught the eye the most were the numerous elevation changes.

Farhan Vohra, clerk of the course for Indian GP, explained at length what the special features of the track were. He spoke of the elevations and the highest point being 14 metres and so on. In simple terms, what this means is anyone who is going to watch this race can see how the cars are going to tackle the track.

Most of the Formula One tracks around the world, barring Turkey, rarely see so many elevation changes. At the Buddh International Circuit, almost after every 300 metres, the driver will have to use his skills, shift gears and then push his car ahead of the field.

It's not going to be like routine Formula One races where drivers can hit top gear and push the pedal hard. The climbs leading into the long straights mean the driver has to come down to a lower gear and then again accelerate hard. This will call for a lot of driver skill.

Those who have had a feel of the track say there will be sufficient overtaking opportunities, but in my view, if drivers have to keep changing gears to get the best out of their cars, it will call for a lot of concentration and much will depend on how the teams work on the preparation of the machines.

Someone like Narain Karthikeyan says cars with greater down-force will have an advantage. But the other point is aerodynamics - how the car is set up will be a big factor.

No doubt, simulations have already shown this track will be fast and an average speed of 243 kmph per lap will make things exciting. However, with so much dust in the area, the choice of tyres will be very important as it can get slippery on the corners.

Each driver in the Formula One circus is experienced and will know what is required to get the better of the dry conditions in Greater Noida and come out on top on October 30. Some say this could be a bit like the Formula One circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, where sand from the desert makes it difficult for the drivers.

The way the stands have been erected at the Buddh circuit, it is not just those with tickets to the grandstand who will get the best view of the action. The 'Picnic Stand', as the name suggests, can also be a great position to be in.

So what about Indians behind the wheel? Narain Karthikeyan has been promised his drive by Hispania. That leaves Karun Chandhok biting his nails as there is still no news from Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes if the Indian will get a drive.

Karun will be driving during free practice on Friday but with regular drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli not ready to vacate their seats, it looks difficult.

With Sebastian Vettel having won the title and Red Bull having sealed the constructors' championship, there is little really at stake for lower teams.

However, word has it that Fernandes may not be able to let Karun take the racing seat as the main drivers have written contracts for the full season.

From an emotional point of view, what with this bring the first Grand Prix in India, Karun deserves to be given a chance. But this is the mean world of F1, where not an inch is given by anyone associated with the sport.

Buddh International Circuit - Greater Noida,