Racing fraternity goes gaga over i1
It’s the dawn of a new era in Indian motorsports. For an enthralling sport that has been longing for attention, the recently launched i1 Super Series comes as a shot in the arm. The city-based franchisee format is the talking point in the racing fraternity which is keenly awaiting the mouthwatering prospects of watching Indian talent lock horns with F1 stars.
Even though India is one of the largest automobile markets, not many manufacturers support motorsport in the country. Given the scenario, Machdar Motorsports’ initiative of i1 Super Series has opened up a new platform. The interest level has only sky rocketed with the announcement of Sachin Tendulkar as the brand ambassador of the series. Sachin’s passion for fast cars is no secret as the Indian star has travelled to various Formula One venues.
Ms Anjana Reddy, director of Machdar Motorsports, said the i1 Superseries would provide complete entertainment for racing fans. “We carried out market research over a period of two-and-a-half years. Our goal was to create a racing culture in the country where the sport has a lot of room for improvement. In cities such as Dubai and Doha, we have a large Indian diaspora that has a keen interest in the sport. When we kick off, the racing weekends will be packed with activities. Celebrity races, live music and an array of promotional activities will guarantee a great outing for the family,” added Ms Anjana.
She added the franchisees will be able to pick their line-up from a pool of foreign and Indian talent. “The bidding process will be a closed one and each team should have a local driver. All of them will be given a lucrative contract,” she said. Confirming that he has been approached by the driver coordinator of the series, Narain Karthikeyan said, “The championship will begin in December when other international events take a break. I am relatively free that time. I have held talks with driver coordinator Enrico Zanarini. I will make a decision soon,” said India’s first F1 driver.
Team Lotus reserve driver Karun Chandhok is delighted, “It is great for Indian motorsport to have such a competitive series. I am sure the series will provide a great platform for the youngsters who want to make it big,” he added. Young talent Armaan Ebrahim is excited about the prospects of rubbing shoulders with the big names. “It would be great to have F1 drivers in the same championship. One can learn a lot from them,” said Armaan.
F2 driver Parthiva Sureshwaren is bullish on the success of the one-make championship. “The concept is really interesting and the cars look fun to drive. To have a winter series is good for the drivers and I am looking forward to being a part of it,” he added.
The seven-round series begins at Buddh International Circuit (Greater Noida) on December 18.
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