i1 reveal mouth-watering driver line-up

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It has all the ingredients for a blockbuster. A hefty prize purse of $2million, a mouth-watering line-up international drivers, a level-playing field of single-make Radical SR3 cars and Sachin Tendulkar as the face of the championship, the i1 Super Series is set to enthrall not just Indian fans, but also the speed junkies from across the world when it takes off at Sepang Intenational Circuit, Malaysia, on January 21.

Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve, Grand Prix winners Giancarlo Fisichella, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jean Alesi grace the star-studded field which was unveiled by the series promoters Machdar Motorsports in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Alex Yoong, Sakon Yamamoto and Mika Salo are the other international stars in the fray.

Not just ex-F1 drivers, the line-up of the IPL-style league has Karun Chandhok and Vitantonio Liuzzi, who were part of the 2011 Formula One season. Chennai trio of Armaan Ebrahim, Aditya Patel and Parthiva Sureswaren lead the local talent which has representations from across the country. From the driver pool of 27, nine franchisees will field 18 racers every race weekend.

Announcing the FIA-approved calendar for the inaugural season, M. Darshan, the CEO of the series, said the races will be held in Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar, India and Abu Dhabi.

Darshan added that the series will also have two women – IndyCar racers Pippa Mann and Cyndie -- who will drive for the same team. “As promised, we have a fantastic line-up of proven international race winners mixed with young Indians. The drivers will have their first taste of the Radical SR3 on Tuesday so we will work closely with them to make the car even better,” said Darshan.

Young Indian drivers who were present at the launch were excited at the prospects of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Villeneuve and Fisichella. “No doubt, it’s dawn of the new era in Indian motorsport.

All this while, I spent money to race in international events. It’s the first time that Indian drivers are getting paid for competing. The series will take surely boost the profile of the sport in the country.

I am thrilled to be a part of it and can’t wait for the season to begin,” said Armaan Ebrahim.

Drivers line-up: International: Jacques Villeneuve, Giancarlo Fisichella, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Karun Chandhok, Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Alex Yoong, Sakon Yamamoto, Mika Salo, Pippa
Mann.

Indians (with international experience): Neel Jani, Armaan Ebrahim, Parthiva Sureswaren, Zaamin Jaffer, Mathias Lauda, Aditya Patel, Akhil Khushlani, Phiroze Billmoria, Cyndie Allemann.

Indian drivers: Gaurav Dalal, Ashwin Sundar, Vishnu Prasad, Chirag Malhotra, Abdul Ahmed, Raj Bharath, Ameya Walavalkar, Sahil Shelar, Amritajit Ghosh, Sailesh Bolisetti.

Calendar: January 21/22 (Sepang, Malaysia); February 3/4 ( Sakhir, Bahrain); February 10/11 (Losail, Qatar); February 25/26 (BIC, India); March 9/10 (Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi).