Driving down the Greater Noida Expressway, the only indication of the Airtel Indian Grand Prix about to take place in the vicinity is a weather-beaten board that reads: '2011 Formula One Grand Prix'!
The second edition of the Indian GP is all set to be flagged off in less than a week's time, but the build-up to the much-awaited event has been quite quiet, to say the least.
The F1 juggernaut will start rolling in just two-three days' time, but the response among the fans has been rather modest, when compared with last year's inaugural race. When Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel crossed the finish-line to take the chequered flag, there were over 95,000 fans cheering him on at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).
In 2012, however, the organisers, Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSI), will be happy even if half of that number turns up on Race Day next Sunday. So why's the buzz missing around the second Indian Grand Prix?
The only Indian driver competing in the Indian GP - HRT's Narain Karthikeyan - has some explanations. "Formula One is a high-profile sporting event. It is probably the biggest international event apart from cricket," Karthikeyan told TOI.
But sources indicate JPSI ticket sales to be in the region of between 55 to 60,000 in a 1,10,000-capacity circuit.
"Last year there was the novelty factor. But after last year, I think a lot of Delhiites are discouraged by the traffic leading up to the track. Also, usually in the second year, and it happens around the world, there is a drop in enthusiasm. I think it should pick up again from next year," the HRT driver, who himself looked pretty exhausted after his long drive back to his city hotel from the track, added. Karthikeyan believes the low ticket sales are not related to lack of interest.
"Unlike China, India is a country where people have plenty of knowledge about motorsports. In China it is only limited to Shanghai. However, in saying that, Brazil is also a developing country like India but they have around 20 different tracks around the country while we have just one F1 track. Even in karting competitions in Brazil, you can see at least 60 karts lining up which you don't get to see in India," the 35-year-old said.
He also believes that attending a F1 GP was more a style statement for a lot of people in India. "Delhiites are brand-conscious people. So in the inaugural season lots of people attended because that was the 'in-thing'.
"From this year onwards you will see only the genuine motorsports fans at the race," he observed. While last year close of 30,000 tickets were sold a week before the race out of the eventual 95,000, this year, till date, JPSI have only managed to sell about 44,000 tickets.
Tickets Anyone?
Rs 2000: Price of lowest priced singleday ticket for 2012 Indian Grand Prix
Rs 12,000: Price of single-day main grandstand ticket (down from Rs 15,000 last year)
Rs 21,000: Price of season ticket of main grandstand (down from Rs 35,000 last year)
95,000: Total ticket sales on Race Day in 2011
44,000: Ticket sales so far
55-60,000: Organiser JPSI's projected ticket sales this year
India Connect
SAHARA FORCE INDIA
It was a while coming but India finally got a team on the Formula One grid with the arrival of Force India in 2007. A consortium led by Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the Spyker F1 team for £90 million.
From the back of the grid five years back, the team has slowly worked its way up to the middle currently challenging the likes of Sauber and Mercedes for fifth and sixth spot in the Constructor's Championship.
In October last year, Sahara India Pariwar bought 42.5% stake in the team for reportedly $100 million to be rechristened Sahara Force India.
Team Watch
FERRARI
Ferrari's relation to motorsports dates as far back as 1929 but the Italian company first started competing in motorsports in 1948. The motor racing giants have 16 constructors titles to their name and five in a row from 2000-04. Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa brought home two more titles in 2007 and 2008.
President: Luca di Montezemolo
Team principal: Stefano Domenicali
Technical director: Pat Fry
Drivers: Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa
Team Budget: Approximately $259.1 million
2012 Report Card: They have been hit hard by the change in F1 rules especially the banning of the blowndiffusers - one thing in which the team invested on heavily. Alonso has kept them ahead of McLaren in second place.
WILLIAMS
Gone are the days when Williams dominated the world of F1. The British team has nine constructors titles to their credit. But the last title was back in 1997.
Team principal: Frank Williams
CEO: Alex Burns
Technical director: Mike Coughlan
Drivers: Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna
Team Budget: $104.1 million approx.
2012 Report Card: The team had one of their worst seasons in F1 last year with just five points to their credit. Pastor Maldonado produced their first win since 2003, in Spanish GP.
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