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The Indian Grand Prix is now a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World
Championship. The first F1 event for India was held at the Buddh International
Circuit in Greater Noida in October 2011. On the weekend of the big event, the
practice and qualifying sessions took place on Oct 28th & 29th, and the first
race in India was held on 30 October 2011. It was the 17th race of the 2011
Formula One season, and was won by Germany's Sebastian Vettel.
A Formula One Fan from Finland shares the Experience
Hello,
We are two Formula 1 fans from Finland. We are married and we have two children
and two grandchildren. My name is Juha and my wife’s name is Eija. We like to
travel around of the world and see F1 races. I have seen 31 races live and Eija
has seen 18. It was very nice to also see the Indian Grand Prix. The Buddh
International Circuit is very nice. I think it is part of the top 5 of the 19
circuits of this season. I visited the circuit three times and my wife two times
because her back was in very bad condition on Sunday, but it was very nice to
get our host Bill to join me on race day. On Friday it was two practice
sessions; Saturday one practice and qualifying session; and the race was on
Sunday. We were able to see almost half of the track from our grandstand seats.
The track is very beautiful and I am also sure that the drivers liked it as
well. Every day there were a lot of spectators and on Sunday it was almost sold
out. This circuit was the 6th new F1 track where we have been. It is normally
that the transport is a big problem in every race, but my opinion is that in
India it was arranged quite well. And the race is a big spectacle with very nice
grid girls before the start and the national Anthem. The voice of the engines is
veeeeeeeeeery loud. It’s only possible to feel that kind of atmosphere of the F1
race by being there at the circuit. One proposition for Friday could be that the
race organizers should give the school children the opportunity of going to the
race circuit. And what we need is more local action around the F1 village –
dancing, singing, and of course fakir or that kind of action.
All said and done, we were very pleased with the Indian GP and during our visit
we saw many interesting places; for example the Taj Mahal.
BR
F1 fans from Finland
1. William (Bill) Hawke, managing editor Diplomatist Magazine
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