Sanjay Sharma (Interview)

READY FOR RACING

SANJAY SHARMA

Head –Motorsport, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.

On the eve of Auto Track's 13th 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.

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. While some sports may lose their essence without a horde of screaming fans from the stands, one must adhere to the safety guidelines laid by the authorities till a permanent solution is found against Corona virus.

If the situation is not stabilized in a few months, would we see an early start in the 2021 championship?

This entirely depends on the situation few months from now. However, we at JK Tyre Motorsport are headed in the right direction with our racing season, which is scheduled for the latter end of this year. It is sad that we have lost some time due to the pandemic, but we are ready to pick up pace to move past the COVID era. Initially, we will organize the competitions within the states where infrastructure is already present including Delhi, Tamil Nadu and North-East. To speed up the process, we are planning to organize two rounds in one weekend. For national championships; we are closely monitoring the situation and aligned with government's directives for travel and hospitality.

Will there be more events next year to compensate for the 2020 championship if it doesn't take place this year?

For us, economic stability is more important, so I don't think that the number of events will increase next year. Given the current situation, as long as the Championships can run with a pre-covid aura, we will be more than satisfied.

Will we see a new single seater series from JK next year?

It seems unlikely. Although towards the end of 2019, plans were finalized for the launch of this new series but unless normalcy returns overall, nothing can be predicted or committed.

Can one consider virtual racing as a stepping stone for starting a career in Motorsport after the rapid development in this space during COVID?

Virtual racing can surely be considered a step in the right direction for anyone who wants to pursue motorsports. While the virtual experience may not be able to provide a completely accurate track experience, it can prove to be effective in making the individual understand what to expect in real world racing. With the evolution in technology, we may, however, expect virtual racing to provide an authentic motorsport experience to the people with the comfort of their homes, in the future.

Dent caused by COVID 19 to motorsports and stakeholders this year?

How to handle the multiple championship round rush if the season begins by October if at all government opens up sports with certain directions? Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has put sports programs to a halt, globally with big tournaments getting cancelled or delayed. It is no different when it comes to motorsports. Although we are set to return with the new season at the end of the year, we have lost valuable time due to the pandemic. Necessary steps have to be taken in order to ensure a swift execution of the sports, while safeguarding the health of everyone associated with the programmes. Also, as stated earlier, to speed-up things we are also planning to organize two rounds in one weekend. The Governing body FMSCI will also draw their calendars and will plan to keep two events of same verticals in a single day as long as they are from different categories like bikes & cars can run on same days.

Has Development in motorsports activity taken a back seat?

Certainly not, the 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. While the pandemic may have slowed the progress, the motorsport industry will be back in action with the upcoming seasons to look forward.

JK's plans and participation for karting, racing and rallying?

JK Tyre would continue to consolidate its partnership with motorsports across verticals and take it to a higher pedestal in the country. We have already seen a tremendous growth of the sport over the past few years however there's still a long way to go.