Indian Grand Prix : India deserving of race - Kaltenborn ( October 28 - 30 , 2011 )

Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn says India has earned the right to host a grand prix, and that the race will benefit both the country and Formula One.

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix takes place on October 30 at the new Buddh International Circuit outside Delhi. A number of new venues have joined the calendar in recent years including Korea, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, and Kaltenborn - who was born in Dehradun - says that India has earned its place as a technical hub.

"This year's Formula One schedule comprises 19 races in 18 countries, and it's right and proper that India is now part of this exclusive group," Kaltenborn said. "The decision to add India to the calendar reflects the country's global and economic standing. India also represents a very big market for Formula One and, as such, has huge potential for many companies, some of which are already involved in the sport.

"Plus, India ranks as a high-tech hub nowadays and boasts extremely well-qualified specialists. The grand prix could open doors for more engineers and companies to find their way into Formula One. As I see it, incorporating India into the World Championship is a good move both for the country and for Formula One."

Kaltenborn also said that she'd noticed an increase interest in Formula One in India, and that the race will help it gain a firm footing alongside cricket.

"I think there's a lot of interest within the country. I get the impression that excitement has been growing significantly over recent months. The closer the grand prix gets, the more media enquiries we've been fielding from India. It's not easy for any sport to find a space in the public consciousness there alongside cricket. But I'm sure that this grand prix will represent a big step towards establishing our sport in India."

( Source : en.espnf1.com/india/motorsport/story/61923.html )