India set to host F1, WRC events soon

Kolkata: Motorsports in the country is set to get a fillip after a recent meeting between sports minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) president Arindam Ghosh along with its council members Vicky Chandhok and Tamal Ghoshal. "We had a very positive and fruitful discussion with the honourable minister," Ghosh told TOI. The former rallyist is impressed at the way the government has taken keen interest in reviving the lost glory of motorsport. "The minister was clear in his message that ‘we need to do it'. India is eager to bring Formula 1 along with other motorsports events back and the minister assured us all help in this regard," Ghosh stated, hoping that it will boost the economy and create job opportunities too.The minister had visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida, which had hosted F1 races from 2011 to 2013 before some bottlenecks caused an abrupt end to the event. "The minister stated the government will see to it that no hurdles come in the way to bring the event back," Ghosh stated. While FMSCI gets busy in getting the groundwork ready, Ghosh indicated that they are not only looking at BIC for staging the event. "It can run on street circuits too," Ghosh, who first proposed a street circuit race in Kolkata in the early 2000s, opined.The FMSCI president has been in touch with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem who is also keen to see F1 revisiting India. "We are getting lots of queries from prospective stakeholders too," Ghosh pointed out.However, the FMSCI president is optimistic of staging a World Rally Championship (WRC) leg in the country before F1. "I think WRC can come here much earlier where we will be able to see Indian drivers participating which will bring new enthusiasm in the sport," he stated.At FMSCI's request, Akbar Ebrahim, the former chief and current president of the FIA International Karting Commission (CIK-FIA) and a sitting member of the FIA World Motorsports Council, initiated efforts to bring an international karting event to India which is scheduled for Sept. Hosts Indian ASN FMSCI entrusted MMSC to run it at MIKA circuit in Chennai and the contract for which will be signed soon.The FMSCI is keen to have a Centre of Excellence in motorsport and the minister backed the idea. "We want youngsters to come into the sport and a CoE can help in skill development of the drivers/riders. It will also empower them with technical assistance to build their machines," the president said, adding that it will get assistance from FIA also.The FMSCI also proposed a Khelo India Motorsports Games event which was enthusiastically received by the minister.ON FAST TRACKBringing F1 backStaging a leg of World Rally ChampionshipHolding international karting event at Chennai in SeptProposal for Centre of Excellence in motorsportProposal for Khelo India Motorsports Games