Buzzin Motor Sport

Monte Carlo

Former Formula one and top Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan cast a little doubt over the proposed Indian Grand Prix, due to be staged in New Delhi in 2011, when he said that he didn’t believe anyone would want to invest in Motorsport during the current global economic crisis. Given the situation in Formula one with it’s self imposed cost cutting exercise, you would say that Karthikeyan is probably right.

The former Jordan driver could not be accused of being negative, he was giving his own realistic view on a project on which work was supposed to begin in October 2008, that has since been postponed until later this year. In fact, Karthikeyan could hardly be more enthusiastic about the advantages of having an Indian Grand Prix, the Force India team has raised the sports profile in his country and he goes on to say:

“It will be very big for the whole of Asia because everyone will benefit, It will also be much better for fans in India to get closer to the sport.”

So, in these times of manufacturers and teams having to resort to making cost savings, is it right that Formula One should continue to appease any country that shows an interest in supporting the sport by offering the next, ‘best circuit in the world’, or should the governing body show some restraint in filling it’s own pockets with lucre and accept what it already has.

Along with the race in India, pencilled in for 2011, Bernie Ecclestone is also working to accommodate South Korea in 2010, and is believed to be keen to race in Russia. He is also under pressure from the manufacturers and sponsors and probably teams and drivers to reinstate a North American GP.

Today’s F1 motorsport news has talk of Italy building a street circuit in Rome, an idea first muted by former World Superbike promoter Maurizio Flammini in 1984, that has re-surfaced since Valencia and Singapore held street races last year. The Italians are hoping for an agreement to be reached for 2011 or maybe 2012, although no discussions have yet taken place with the FIA.

Monaco has a long association with F1, it is steeped with history, money and glamour. The racing on the other hand is seldom more than a procession around the tight streets of the principality and seldom lives up to expectation. Do we need anymore of this style of racing?

As Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said last year: “At least Monaco has its own history but to have three or four Monaco’s is too much!”