Grandly un-Indian

India on wheels is getting faster and hotter and it’s action time yet again! A year has zoomed past in no time and though India continues to be the same sore hotbed of swindles and scandals to the media’s delight, here we are with the tracks well laid, grid gals lined up and custom engines fully oiled and roaring. Yes, this is the un-Indian GP where speed meets style, guts get at the gearboxes and reckless rich of a nation swelling with a weekend’s pride catch up for garden picnic, serious business and Formula 1 racing. So if you’re a race maniac, worship speed, crave for and then love to forget unfamiliar but beautiful company, bright urban sunshine and were rich enough to buy those flashy race tickets then Buddh International Circuit is the place you must be October 28 because the Indian GP is back.

On racing counts, this time there is better competition in the leaderboards - unlike last year when it was a Sebastian Vettel show the season throughout, a dominant run that decided the individual and team championships even before the Indian GP started! Vettel has his zip back and leads Fernando Alonso by six points in defence of his world crown and the neck-to-neck race between the two prospective 2014 teammates for Ferrari would attract many experts.

Generally the battle between the sixth and seventh teams in the constructors’ list interest none save the units involved, but with Sahara Force India principal Vijay Mallya, and also his warhorses, being vociferous about overtaking Sauber, who incidentally have the Dehra Dun-born Monisha Kaltenborn at the helm now, for the sixth position and a well-paid media promoting the whole issue, the fight will not go unnoticed. Add to it the recent performances of Nico Hulkenberg, and some time back of Paul di Resta, then Force India would have more than just one reason to hit the podium at the ‘ideal home race’.

The race would also suit the VJM05. As Hulkenberg, who most probably would have his good times with Sauber next year, put it: “The races coming up (read races in India, Abu Dhabi, Austin and Sao Paulo) should suit us quite well, especially somewhere like Abu Dhabi with long straights and slow corners. Those are the sort of corners where our car has looked quite strong so far.”

The BIC comes with subtle modifications this time, the kerbs have got longer to avoid any shortcut return to the ‘main course’ and hence Felipe Massa can breathe easy (you must remember how he crashed on kerb eight last time and then called for a change). This new ‘sausagy’ look along with greener surroundings –some say one lakh saplings have been planted, only planted- better parking facilities, the Yamuna Expressway being opened, chartered buses and lot more mean a sell out crowd, some grand Indian racing ‘phoren istyle’ and a gala success yet again.

Hence, by the evening of October 28, the all-knowing honest Indian Inc. –the torchbearers of a ‘going to the dogs new India’- would have completed another lap towards making their presence felt and also an octogenarian Bernie Ecclestone richer- maybe he should now pen a will before it’s too late. And whichever way Formula1 in India goes, for the fastest Indian is still slowest in the world, the carnival will come back pretty soon!