Country should be very proud says F1 supremo
Last Updated: October 31, 2011 8:57am
Bernie Ecclestone: believes India delivered an 'incredible' grand prix
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is adamant the Indian Grand Prix delivered despite fans complaining of yet another boring race.
The Buddh International Circuit made its F1 debut this past weekend with a few glitches here and there in a power failure on Thursday and a dog on the track on Friday.
However, overall it proved to be smooth weekend, with not a single reported issue when the 95,000 fans arrived for the grand prix on Sunday.
"What they had to build here in the short amount of time is just incredible. I've seen what happens at most new races and new tracks," Ecclestone told the Times of India.
"India should be very proud that a private enterprise has achieved this. Everything is super, it just needed a little bit of polish. It needs to be tidied up which doesn't take time."
The layout of the track was also praised by all quarters with the drivers saying they thoroughly enjoyed it despite a lack of action in Sunday's race.
Ecclestone said: "We wanted to make sure that this was built a particular way. We wanted to make sure it comes out well on TV. Circuits are usually flat but there's a bit of elevation here so it looks good on TV. And it has," he said.
"I'd said before the weekend that we needed three things to make this race a success: Good crowd, media support and a track that the drivers will enjoy. I think India has delivered on all counts."
Indian media trumpeted the event, with the Times of India devoting five pages of coverage alongside its interview with Ecclestone and splashing "World raises toast to India" as its main headline on the front page.
"It was only a matter of time before the world's largest democracy with an ever-growing middle class was brought into the ambit of F1," said the paper's editorial, titled "A winning Formula".
"It is not only Sebastian Vettel, winner in Sunday's race, who is celebrating."
Spectators were also quick to seize on the symbolism of the race, saying it had not only improved India's image, but also demonstrated the country's progress.
"It's just another step towards the direction India's headed to," said electronics consultant Nitin Gandhi.
"I wouldn't call it a turning point but India's developing, India's growing. The economy's doing well, the people are working hard and this is part of that culture. Let's keep going down that path and good things are bound to happen."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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