READY FOR RACING th
SANJAY SHARMA Head –Motorsport, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.
On the eve of Auto Track's 13 anniversary issue, we caught up with Mr Sanjay Sharma (fondly called "Hardy" in the racing circuit), Head - Motorsport, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. to share his views on the current racing season due to Covid-19, future plans and number of other issues related to JK Tyre's involvement in Motorsport in India. With his long association of almost three decades, Mr Sharma has played a key role in JK Tyre's motorsport and the tyre major produced several talented drivers from Karting to Formula 1.
Indian motorsports industry has grown multifold over the past few years and is set to continue on this growth trajectory in the future as well. It will be back in action soon with the upcoming season
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12 autotrack.ind.in SEPT / OCT 2020
What is the impact of COVID on motorsports in the long run? This COVID-induced lock down did act as a speedbreaker for motorsports, however, with normalcy seeping in, we are ready to get back into the fast lane. Since Motorsport is not a direct contact sport and the racers use all the mandatory safety gear, this industry is prepared to head towards the new normal and subsequently in the post-COVID world. In long run, there will be new norms for the sport globally. There will be strict protocols implemented to ensure safety of the entire ecosystem. More importantly, a well thought out roadmap needs to be accepted operationally and psychologically.
Would the concept of running ad hoc events succeed this year? Yes, of course it will as we need to keep the machinery well-oiled and momentum going. Additionally, livelihoods dependency on motorsport programs is high, thus the events must take off irrespective of their form including adhoc, Championships or Cups. Would motorsports be back to normal next year or would it gradually pick up pace over a couple of years? We strongly believe that motorsports is set to pickup soon through this year and be back to normal by next year. The international circuits are already witnessing a revival and have set benchmarks for the global community to learn from. The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) has laid down a detailed set of SOPs for the resumption of processes, factoring in social distancing and safety protocols outlined by the government. Is it of benefit to organize an event without spectators in a place like BIC? While the world returns to its pre-COVID schedule, it is important to understand that the dangers from the virus are still imminent.
