By IANS,
Pune : Vicky Chandhok, head of the country’s apex body for motor sports and the one overseeing the track preparation for the inaugural Formula One Indian Grand Prix, has said the biggest challenge for the organisers would be to efficiently manage the “humongous” logistics involved in conducting a race.
Chandhok, also a former driver, admitted that he has no idea how the organisers will do the “tough” job, but hoped they will pull off the enormous exercise.
As a usual practice at the end of the race, all 24 teams’ equipment, including the cars, are transported from one venue to another on seven jumbo aircraft. Keeping that in mind, the approximate 50-km distance between Delhi Airport and the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida could make things tough for the organisers.
“The biggest challenge is to get the logistics done. Seven jumbo aircraft carry only the sophisticated equipment worth millions of dollars from race to race. Then you have to take them from the airport to the venue, it will be tough to do that here,” Chandhok told IANS on the sidelines of the 35th convention of the Sports Journalists Federation of India here Wednesday.
“The FIA (international motorsports body) is very professional on everything related to the operational part of an F-1 race but since it is the first time for us, there will always be a doubt.
“I see this is as a good challenge for the people involved and an opportunity to show our efficiency to the world,” said Chandhok.
There are also reports doing the rounds that Indian GP slotted for Oct 28-30 might be rescheduled to December to adjust the Bahrain GP, which was earlier cancelled due to riots in the Gulf nation.
Chandhok says it is unlikely that the dates are changed, but if the race is eventually rescheduled to December he hopes to witness the season’s grand finale in India.
“The change in dates is unlikely, but if it happens I would want to see Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull fight it out for the championship with Indian GP being the last race on the calendar.”
Samir Kumar of Jaypee Sports International, the organisers, maintained that the race will be held as scheduled and is confident that the pending work in and around the track will be completed one month before the race. The homologation of the 5.1 km circuit is scheduled in the first week of August.