India gears up for race

What does India gain by hosting a Formula One Grand Prix next year? A lot actually, considering there is huge following for the sport. Many believe it should not be called a sport as it is all about the car, but never mind.

Apart from the event being a big draw for youngsters, Indians like their share of speed, skill and adventure. Look at how we negotiate dicey roads everyday of our lives.

A race in India will also mean the Asian influence on Formula One is more or less complete -- with Singapore, the UAE, Japan, South Korea, Bahrain, China and Malaysia as venues.

Just last week, Karun Chandhok made his debut for the Hispania F1 team. His first Grand Prix in Bahrain was a disappointment, but even the best sporting exponents have to be given time to settle down on a bigger stage. It is in India's sporting culture to be impatient and even the most talented are subjected to unfair scrutiny. It must change.

Before Chandhok, it was Narain Karthikeyan who made it to the Formula One world. He was on the Jordan team in 2005 and a test driver for Williams in 2006 and 2007. It's a pity he is not involved with F1 anymore and many believe Vijay Mallya should have had him on his Force India team. The more patriotic felt Mallya's decision to have India mentioned on his team label was warped when he did not have a driver from his nation racing for him.

Who knows what the future holds for Chandhok and Karthikeyan, but India must have representation at the wheel for the first race to be a success. If not, it will be another of those high-profile events that don't leave a mark on the country's sporting history.

Champions in any sphere do not always pop out of thin air, but from a system that is held together by vision, desire and belief. Every sport needs skilled individuals for it to take off. Skills may vary, but as long as the gap between the good and the great is not too wide, it is not going to be disastrous for India. And while India should accept that they might not be top of the pile in next year's GP, they should not lose hope.

Only the highly optimistic will visualise a big pool of driving talent from India, but if Chandhok shows enough promise this year, he will do wonders for his country's home event and its future. Hopefully, he will be around for a while.

India will be good hosts next year, but it is important to be prosperous even after the guests have said their goodbyes.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels