Fantastic to have F1, great for motorsport: Karthikeyan

Pune, June 15 (UNI) It is indeed fantastic to have Formula 1 in India which, in turn, will catapult motorsports to greater heights, opined India's first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan.

Speaking to mediapersons after formally inaugurating the Bajaj SAE India mega workshop at the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the unassuming and sombre Karthikeyan said if Bahrain, China and Malaysia could have the huge spectator sport in their countries why India should lag behind? The letter of intent from the F1 boss Benie Eccbestone has certainly opened the door for the popular F1 to come to India in the year 2009, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered William test driver said.

Praising the efforts of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, Karthikeyan urged liquor baron Vijay Mallya, MP, to shoulder the responsibility of organising the event in association with the Union and Delhi governments to realise the cherished dream of the millions.

The 32-year-old Coimbatore-based driver rued that no proper infrastructure facilities exist for the hugely popular spectator sports.

Considering the huge financing being involved in the sport, it would be a herculean task before the government to pour funds for the promotion of motorsports which is not an Olympic discipline, he said.

Citing an example of Bahrain, Karthikeyan said it cost the kingdom of Bahrain 150 million dollars to build the Baharian International Circuit, besides the fees paid to the F1 administeration.

Considering the present situation, he said the cost could esclate to over Rs 600 crore and it will not be impossible to raise the amount without the help from the corporates and the industrial houses.

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