Staff Writer – Archi
Formula One management and the promoters of the Indian Grand Prix, remained unfazed about the 30,000 dip in the number of spectators for the second year of the race at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida outside the Indian capital city of New Delhi last week.
An estimated 65,000 people turned up at the Buddh International Circuit for the second Formula One Indian Grand Prix while in the inaugural season the attendance was close to 95,000.
Unlike last year the response was lukewarm this time around but the buzz and enthusiasm surrounding the race was pretty good. Even though the orgainsers had slashed the ticket prices as compared to last year, it failed to generate a similar presence at the 120,000-capacity Buddh International Circuit.
The dip is substantial but race promoters Jaypee Group and sport’s rights holder Formula One management do not see it as a major issue.
“The first time the excitement is always high, second it goes down. Third year is what is important as there is something to worry if the interest keeps on falling. And we have a competitor here. What’s the name of that game? Cricket. That’s it,” Formula One’s most powerful man Bernie Ecclestone said.
The BIC capacity stands at 100,000. A top Jaypee official said only 3,000 complimentary passes were distributed.
“In the second year the interest is bound to go down but 65,000 is still a huge number. For us, the most important thing was the Grand Prix went smooth. All the technology functioned properly. The teams and the drivers were happy with the upgraded facilities,” the official said.
Buddh International Circuit . Photo courtesy rediff.com
“Though it is less than last year, we are happy with the turn out. Slowly and steadily the F1 craze is increasing in India,” said Manoj Gaur, executive chairman of Jaypee Group.
Indian motorsports federation chief Vicky Chandhok predicts a bigger turnout in 2013.
“Formula One is like this only. This is the trend everywhere. From third race onwards, you’d see some kind of stability. Overall, it has been a huge improvement from last year,” he said.
But the crowd turn out had very little impact on the event as the show went on smoothly. Apart from an enthralling race, they were also treated to a concert by leading Hindi singer Shaan and music composers Vishal and Shekhar, who performed at the F1 village area before the start of the race.
Harbhajan Singh. Photo courtesy geteasyway.com
Adding glamour to the event were a number of Bollywood popular movie heroes and heroines.
There were a number of Indian sporting stars too at the BIC. India’s medallists at the London Olympics, wrestler Sushil Kumar and shooter Vijay Kumar were present as shooter Gagan Narang waved the chequered flag at the end of the race.
Other Indian athletes — archer Deepika Kumari and chess player Tania Sachdev — also made it to the event.
The cricketing fraternity was led by rising stars Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, who came along with his long-time girlfriend to the circuit.
