F1 in the bullock cart age
So deep has been the abiding prejudice against cars among India’s politicians and planners that it is not surprising that the Indian Government gave so little support to the recent Formula One race. Ever since independence the ideals of Gandhian thrift and socialist simplicity had made Indian planners consider the car as a luxurious toy of the elite. The declared focus of planning was for the poor and cars, bikes and the petrol to drive them were always taxed to the hilt. Things are however changing even if the government’s thinking remains mired in the age of the Bullock cart. Most Indians above the age of 40 seem to consider the car as a means of transportation. Those below 40 however think of cars and bikes as their grandfather’s used to think about their horses and are impassioned about their beauty, speed, grace, stamina, pedigree and many other attributes. Till recently many who could afford expensive cars felt guilty about flaunting their wealth. Today their children, who are global in outlook, are bullying them to go for luxury brands like Audi, BMW or Mercedes. It is little surprise that their sales are now booming after so many years of stagnation.
The auto Industry is the world’s largest manufacturing industry and even in India is estimated to directly and indirectly generate about 12 per cent of the country’s GDP. F1 is also a huge business with each of the 12 teams having to hire two jumbo jets to shuttle their race cars, engines and crews to the 20 F1 venues across the globe. They need about 6,000 rooms for a week at every city. The thousands of travellers who follow the F1 circuit give a big boost to tourism while journalists who also visit many parts of the country publicise the many things to see.
Like the margin between the winner and the next driver measured in nano seconds F1 is all about precise management. Producing a nearly perfect scandal free F1 infrastructure was also a huge achievement perhaps because it was all by private sector effort. It is amazing that all this effort and investment is for a single day event. For the rest of the year the beautiful new circuit will now be a focus for many other local auto races and auto company promotions and events that might make India’s planners a bit more auto minded.
RENAULT SHOWCASES THE PULSE HATCHBACK
Renault, whose engines power three of the F1 race teams, gave journalists a look at their premium hatchback, the Pulse, that is to be launched in January. Carlos Taveras, the COO of Renault also announced that it would be powered by their 1500 cc K9K diesel engine that they plan to make in India for their global markets. A plant for 1, 50,000 engines is being set up in Chennai. The Pulse shares the same platform as the Nissan Micra.
The writer is an automotive expert and the former editor of a national magazine
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