Ta rmac
Vol-I • Issue-I • October 2012
The of ficial magazine of Buddh International Circuit
Indian motorsport’s golden track
Inside
Marc Webber Michael Schumacher Nico Rosberg Bernie Ecclestone
Trackdays
India’s newest weekend passion 1
The
Official
Magazine
of
Jaypee
S p o r ts
International
straight
drive Vol-I • Issue-I • October 2012
Inside
Marc Webber Michael Schumacher Nico Rosberg Bernie Ecclestone
Trackdays
India’s newest weekend passion
Indian motorsport’s golden track 1
MD Note
Published by: MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd. Publisher & COO: Vikas Johari CEO & Managing Director: Prakash Johari CFO: Kuldip Singh Concept and editing: Executive Editor: Kabeer Sharma Rights:
the track that changed it all In less than a year the Buddh International Circuit has already changed the way we look at Motorsports - no small feat for a country as obsessed with cricket as ours.
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men who run the grand prix Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Marc Webber, Adrian Newey, Narain Karthikeyan and Bernie Ecclestone talk shop, asphalt and overtaking. 10
formula 1’s picasso The man who’s designed more racetracks than any other in the world on the new racetrack at Austin and his pride and joy - the Buddh International Circuit. 20
eye candy of the indian grand prix ’12 The racers you should be following closely at the second edition of Indian Grand Prix
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what we’ve been up to What we do when we are not hosting nail-biting, championship-clinching Grand Prix races. 26
conten ts 4
October 2012
Sameer Gaur MD-and-CEO,-JPSI
Dear friends, A year ago, they said we couldn’t do it; we wouldn’t have a circuit ready in time; it’s been a year since they were forced to eat their words. We answered with a circuit which the world of Formula 1 has unanimously declared one of the century’s best. The Buddh International Circuit is compared to Spa Francorchamps (Belguim) and Suzuka (Japan). The two circuits are the world’s most relished circuits by F1 drivers. For BIC to be ranked amongst them even before its second race is as humbling as pride inspiring. The magazine you hold in your hand is a natural progression – and a befitting tribute to the track we are all still quite smitten by. This year’s Airtel Indian Grand Prix promises to be even more exciting. Though Fernando Alonso and the Ferrari have established over Hamilton in the championship standings – neither one of them are showing any signs of backing off. Infact, just one point separates Number 2 Hamilton from Number 3 Kimi Raikkonen who is a mere one point ahead of last year’s champion Sebastian Vettel (Rank 4). India has always enjoyed a deeper connect with Michael Schumacher and it’s as much fun to see him take the circuit as it is to see Sachin dispatch one over long-on. Personally, though there will always be a soft corner in my heart for the only Indian team on the track - Force India and the only Indian on the circuit – Narain Kartikeyan racing for HRT. The debut issue of Tarmac has interviews of both Michael Schumacher and Narain Kartikeyan. Also in this issue is Hermann Tilke himself – the master architect who designed the Buddh International Circuit, Bernie Ecclestone and one of the most celebrated engineers of Formula 1 – Adrian Newey. The year ahead is a hectic and fast paced one for BIC – with the final round of The FIA GT1 World Championship, the MRF Challenge 2012, the FIM world superbike championship and track days are going to keep us busy. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Enjoy the race weekend. And do stop by on a trackday, the only thing that beats the thrill of seeing a car take a corner at 260 kmph is driving it.
Crossings Insight, a quarterly magazine for Crossings Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. for Crossings Republik township, is printed and published by Vikas Johari on behalf of MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd. (MMGIPL) for Crossings Republik and published at MMGIPL, Unit No. F2B, Second Floor, MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110065, India. Crossings Republik magazine is published four times a year. All rights reserved. The writing, artwork and/or photography contained herein may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of MMGIPL. MMGIPL does not assume responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited products, manuscripts, photographs, artwork, transparencies or other materials. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or Crossings Republik. All efforts have been made while compiling the content of this magazine, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from.
Contacts: MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd.
Head Office | Unit No. F2B, Second Floor, MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110065, India, Tel: +91.11.43011111, Fax: +91.11.43011233 West | Mumbai | TV Industrial Estate, Unit No. B-22 (Basement) A. K. Ahire Marg, Worli, Mumbai - 400018, India, Tel: +91.22.61991111, Fax: +91.22.61991115 Ahmedabad | Top floor, Navrang Bldg. Opposite Pizza Hut, Near Swastik Char, Rasta, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad - 380 009, Tel: +91.79.6510235 East | Kolkata | Sudarshan Business Centre, 7B Rani Rash Moni Road Kolkata.- 700 013, Tel: +91.33.22658479 South | Bangaluru | 1010 A Wing, 10th Floor, Mittal Towers, M.G. Road, Bangaluru-560001, Karnataka, India, Tel: +91.80.40921037-38 Hyderabad | Executive Business Club, Mount Banjara Apartment, 1st floor, Road no 12, Banjara hills, Hyderabad-500034, Tel: +91.40.66786800, +91.9700001177, Fax: +91.40.66785800 Chennai | FL 9, Alsa Mall, First Floor, 149 Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai- 600008; Tel: +91.44.42015685, Fax: +91.44.42015684 FOR INQUIRIES | MMGIPL Tel: +91.11.43011111; Fax: +91.11.43011233 www.jaypeesports.com, www.maxposure.in
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Cover story
The Track That Changed It All
THE GOLDEN
TRACK In the Buddh International Circuit, Indian motorsports has found the boost it always sought and in the race India has found a sport it can look up to – other than cricket. words bilal zaidi
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October 2012
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Cover story
The Track That Changed It All
T
he news that India was going to build a world class racing facility that would make Bernie Ecclestone nod in approval was met with different yet expected reactions. Some hailed it as a development that could put India on the map and give a fillip to motorsports in the country. The Commonwealth Games and the ensuing debacle over India’s preparedness to host international events forced Jaypee Sports International played its cards close to their chest. No one was allowed in or out without permission. A week before the Formula 1 circus descended onto New Delhi, buses packed with journalists – local, national and international – were given a grand tour of the track. The race weekend arrived. The smell of paint mixed freely with the smell of grease and fuel fumes. The sound of hammering nails was overtaken by the vroom of the very loud engines and the talk in the paddock was how so much better this was than Shanghai. Bernie Ecclestone flew down, celebrated his birthday with the spanking new circuit running a massively successful race. Sebastian Vettel won another race and another title. The men behind the track though didn’t step out for an encore – they knew work was only getting started.
As the sun set and the shadows got longer, and the pit lane cleaned out one tyre and grease stain at a time, for many India’s tryst with F1 was over for the year. But in reality the actual work had just begun. If motorsports in India had any chance of flourishing, the 5.14 kilometre-long track with its long straight and some challenging corners had a pivotal role to play when it comes to unearthing serious motorsport talent in the country. With a chunk of the sporting action taking place in the south – Chennai and Coimbatore with a couple of races in Pune – the Buddh International Circuit represented a chance for the Federation of Motor Sports Council of India and Jaypee to build and nurture the sport.
Next up at Buddh international circuit
Beyond F1
MRF Challenge 2012 October 26-28, 2012 as a support race for the grand prix FIA GT1 World Championship December 1-2, 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship March 2013
The track has given the auto industry and public interest a huge fillip. Automobile manufacturers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes can pamper their loyal customers and at the same time launch cars that appeal to potential customers. Open track days allowed the general public to experience the same thrills that the F1 drivers last year around the Hermann Tilke designedtrack. Driving around the bends at speeds in excess of a 120 kmph without the fear of cops chasing them down was an adrenaline rush that many relished. It is estimated that approximately 40 million Indians watched the live coverage of the race coupled with an in-stadia presence of over one hundred thousand spectators. Surely, the sheer magnitude of these numbers was impossible to ignore. The successful culmination of the first ever Indian Grand Prix was proof enough that a new market was ready to be wowed with shows just as grand. And this budding interest has been noticed.
The Track ahead
October 2012
The Arrival Of The Superbikes Interest from the two-wheel segment wasn’t far away when in June JPSI signed a four-year deal with Infront Motor Sports to host a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, with the first race to be held in March 2013. India will become the 27th country to host a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, which in 2013 will celebrate the 26th year of its existence since it started in 1988. It’s no coincidence that motorsports loves countries with a free market economy. At the end of the day – the curiosity about the sport within the country and interest in India from the outside world is bound to grow with each edition of the F1 race or any international event. Despite that, the 20 gleaming carbon fibre rockets on a spectacular racetrack has given our country, a true blue international sport to embrace. And that’s no small feat in a country as obsessed with cricket as ours.
The circuit has been playing a vital role in nurturing motorsports in india right from the debut grand prix
The FIA GT1 World Championship comes calling at the end of the year when the Buddh International Circuit hosts the final round of the international championship with Indian driver Armaan Ebrahim in the Ford GT 40. Did the fact that Ebrahim is Indian and the race is in India have anything to do with his appointment? It would be foolish to assume it didn’t. In the new order of how
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the world economy stands and functions, having a driver who belongs to the country hosting the race. Just like a Chinese driver at a race in China. Not only does it drum up public interest, it gives sponsors a reason to join in. MRF’s new championship, The MRF Challenge 2012 that aims to “put a spring in the step of young racing drivers across the globe” will make its debut
with the first round of races as one of the support races for the Indian Grand Prix. The second round of races will be the support act for the FIA GT1 World Championship on December 1-2.
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p e rfo rm a n ce
Men Who Run The Grand Prix
exclusive
Star talk Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Marc Webber, Narain Karthikeyan, Adrian Newey and Bernie Ecclestone... your Grand Prix superstar line-up
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October 2012
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Men Who Run The Grand Prix
We have great races now If racing was illegal then Michael Schumacher says he would have found another way to battle & compete right to the edge
Michael Schumacher
You’re currently turning out new race tracks at the rate of one a year. You completed Korea in 2010, India in 2011, this year there’s to be one in Austin, Texas… Help us read the mind of a seven time F1 World Champion when he gets behind the wheel? On the road: Well, I probably would say it’s about how to get to the destination as safely and smoothly as possible. On the track It’s about total concentration on the job in hand and how to achieve what one has to do - the practice programme, qualifying preparation or options at the start. How does a MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 team formulate its strategy before a race? How far do on the spot decisions taken by the driver during the race affect it? We have a team of strategists whom we work with to establish the fastest way of running the race, and then how we adapt this strategy to take account of different circumstances. As drivers, we probably have more influence than we used to, because many of the decisions come down to our feeling with the tyres – particularly in wet conditions. We are the guys in the car so we have the best information about how the tyres are performing and what the track conditions are like. But the team has the overview of what strategies our rivals are following and how they are performing. So like everything in this sport, it’s totally a team effort. Then and now: How is the racetrack different? Today, the regulations are quite different and this has
brought the cars closer and increased the chances of overtaking. So, we are racing wheel-to-wheel more often than in the past, which is great for the drivers because that is what we enjoy and also exciting for the fans to watch. While racing we can’t push to the limits for we have to think about how we are using the tyres, make them last and try to make our strategy work. So it’s very different to how it was when we could sprint flat out between every pit stop, which was more fun from a pure driving point of view. But I think we have great races now and the challenge for us is to adapt to this way of racing. In the end, just like old times it is still about battling right to the edge with every other driver. You have raced against the best in the world of racing - pick your most memorable race? It would be Suzuka 2000; it was a pure battle between Mika (Häkkinen) and me. We both pushed our performances to a level that translated into great racing. Winning the first Ferrari title with such a race is a memory that will always hold a special place. A quick lap: Your autobiographical movie would be titled… “Not thought about that” On a Sunday morning you wish for… “A win on a Sunday afternoon” Long drives? Your choice of car… “Something with a star on the front…” What if racing was illegal… “Then, we’d find another way to compete” If time flies then speed... “Slows it down”
Factfile TEam: Mercedes PODIUMS: 155 POINTS: 1560 Highest Race Finish: 1 (x91)
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October 2012
We have a very quick car When all seems under control Nico Rosberg thinks that perhaps he is not driving fast enough
This season has been spectacular for the Silver Arrows - taking the first win for 57 years for a works Silver Arrow. How does it feel to be instrumental in achieving it? Just fantastic. The result in China was very special – my first win, in my 111th race, 111 years after the first Mercedes racing car won its first race. As a team we have got much stronger to achieve our ambitions of fighting for wins and championships. Our car is much more competitive this year and we have passed the
first milestone on the road by winning the first race for a Silver Arrow in this modern era. But it is only a milestone – we still have a long way to go, and we are all working very hard to achieve our goals. This season has been full of surprises so far, do you think we start having repeats next race onwards in Valencia? I think we have probably seen one or two real surprises this year but if you look at the championship the usual names are right at the top. So even in this unpredictable season the best drivers are able to make the difference. But I hope for a repeat winner in Valencia, yes – and I bet you can guess which one, too!
“It’s not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference” Do you agree? How do you prepare for a race, mentally and physically? I completely agree – when opportunity knocks you have to be ready to take it. My physical preparation is constant and ongoing – I train several hours a day between races, and in the last 18 months have even started competing in triathlons. As for mental preparation, it is important just before a race. It’s about visualising the start and having a clear idea in your head about how the race will unfold. We have a lot of strategic information to remember so that we can make the absolute most of every opportunity.
The qualifying pace of both the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS cars are fantastic but the race pace needs improvements. What is going wrong according to you? I don’t think that is accurate. In China and Monaco, we had the fastest car in the race. And in Canada too, after I had some problems in the first ten laps, I was as quick as the leaders. We have a car that is quick in qualifying and the race, and we need to make the most of that by putting together perfect weekends.
A quick lap: You win the most important race of your life. Your Facebook status message reads... “A big smiley face!” If you had the freedom and authority to replace the speed bumps on a road you would do that with? “I don’t think I would. They serve a purpose and we need to respect them.” A T-shirt quote that you’d like to wear. “If it all feels under control, you’re not driving fast enough”
Factfile TEAM: Mercedes Podiums: 7 POINTS: 389.5 HIghest Race Finish: 1 (x1)
Nico Rosberg 13
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Men Who Run The Grand Prix
Factfile Team: Red Bull Racing Podium: 32 Points: 801.5 Highest race finish: 1 (x91)
Alonso might have taken a lead ahead of the Indian GP, it’s webber who you should be watching out for. Currently ranked fifth on the drivers standings he is gunning for a podium.
Mark webber
You’ve signed on for another year. Has your stint with Red Bull Racing been all that you’d imagined it to be? 2012 is my eleventh season of F1. More recently, I have been renewing my contract on an annual basis. I want to continue to have the drive and ambition to perform at the front of the field and not just be there making up the numbers. I enjoy driving at the moment and I’m looking forward to continue driving for the team next year as well. You’re scheduled to come to India in October. What are your expectations off the circuit this year? The string of races in Asia this year works out well for me as it means I can base myself in Australia and fly down for each race. I think Alonso is on a roll at the moment and there’s a great chance for him to close out the championship in the next few races. But you have to try and stop the momentum, which is up to all of us, not just myself, to try and have some different winners. The Indian circuit is quite exciting for overtaking. So, we’ll have to wait and watch what happens on raceday.
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October 2012
The change in tyre suppliers, tweaks in rules and regulations etc. were all designed to make racing exciting. Do you think that’s been accomplished? The rule changes have been very positive for the sport. The tyres have played the biggest role in increasing the entertainment value. You are a complete outdoors person – Cycling, mountain climbing, tennis. And then there’s driving, which involves sitting crouched in a car for long periods. Quite a contrast there. So, what’s so special about racing that you made that your life instead of the other sports? I tried a lot of different sports when I was young, as all kids do growing up in Australia. I was okay at most of them, but when I got the chance to drive a friend’s go-kart, I found something that I really enjoyed doing and wasn’t too bad at. The sports I love doing nowadays such as cycling, mountain biking, kayaking and trekking are only pursuits I’ve discovered since I became a professional racing driver. You’re a rugby fan. Who are you backing to win the World Cup? Australia of course! But given everything that New Zealand has been through this year with the earthquake and the fact that they’re hosting the World Cup, it would be fitting for them to do well.
How do you relax off the track? I really enjoy relaxing at home in England, going for walks with my dogs, going cycling, and doing normal day-to-day stuff. How tense does the atmosphere tend to become in a team when you have two drivers gunning for victory? Of course, both Seb and I want to win – we are racers and our aim is to win races. The team ensures both Sebastian and I get the same equipment to use and we both have equal chance. Are you superstitious? Do you say a little prayer every time you get into the cockpit? No, I’m not really superstitious. I just believe in hard work and that you create your own luck to some extent. I think hurdles are put in our way to make us stronger. What’s the one thing no one can get you to try or do? I’m a little bit claustrophobic, so anything involving extremely confined spaces would be pretty hard to talk me into.
ADRIAN NEWEY ADRIAN NEWEY has magic in his hands and can probably design a winning Formula One car in his sleep. And he also may be the most gifted and brilliant engineer in F1, but the self-confessed petrol head, who recently took the Ginetta G50 sports car for a spin and a crash at the Snetterton Circuit, isn’t just sitting pretty on his laurels…
to do well. If you are doing badly then you want to do well. And then when you do, you are under pressure to maintain it. It’s the eternal circle or the infinity loop, so to speak.
honours degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Southampton, I had my first stint in the motor sports world when I worked with the Fittipaldi Formula One team under Harvey Postlethwaite.
I have been lucky enough to have several highlights. That first race win and first World Championship are very special. The first race win with Toro Rosso and Sebastian Vettel at Monza in the wet was very special. And without a doubt one of the highlights was winning the Championships with Red Bull Racing in 2010 because we were a young team, starting with the ashes of Jaguar in 2005 and with the aspiration – when I joined – to be involved in developing the team so that it could hopefully one day win a race or a Championship. It was extremely momentous to actually achieve that.
What’s so special about your relationship with Red Bull Racing? This season must be a little bit of a heart-break... The motivation to compete and win is still as Did you dream of becoming an engineer for strong as ever, simply because I really enjoy this an F1 team? team. We’ve got a great outfit and we have a good I grew up fascinated by cars and loved to make atmosphere here. We don’t pretend to be anything model kits of racing machines, so I always knew we’re not. We’re a Formula One that one day I would become a team that goes about its business motor racing engineer. Factfile of trying to make the best possible TEam: Red Bull Racing Years Active: 30 car we can. What was your first stint in the Newey DeSigned motor sports world? Grand Prix wins: 80 Your favorite and worst race? After receiving a First Class
Does the pressure of working in this environment sometimes get to you? It’s a constant stress, so now it’s simply the level I live on. I find my biggest enemy is time. The job is very time consuming – and can be all-consuming if you are not careful. There is always the pressure
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Men Who Run The Grand Prix
Narain Karthikeyan How do you prepare for a race weekend? You don’t prepare for a race, you prepare for the whole year basically. It’s important to reach a circuit early because you have jetl-ag to contend with. It’s best to get in settled in quickly and then you have to sort out your nutrition, your sleeping pattern before you hit the track. Any particular relaxation technique - like listening to a particular kind of music? I listen to everything and anything. Even when you are in the gym doing your stretches and everything, your physio is with you. There’s sports therapy and stuff. So that’s enough to relax you. Of course there’s nervous energy. It’s a lot of pressure, I can tell you that. Qualifying requires a different mindset from racing. What goes on in a driver’s head while he’s on the ‘flying lap’? Getting the maximum out of the car and pushing it to the limit. That’s what you keep thinking. That’s what you want. Driving a car with a low-fuel load and brand new tyres is an unbelievable feeling. You get great grip and when you do a good lap, you feel awesome. You have to be very focused and go all out. You make a small mistake and that’s it. Do drivers indulge in trash talking? Never. Nobody talks to each other so the question doesn’t even arise. There’s joking alright but it never reaches the teasing stage. Do you play racing games at all? None of that for me. Once you do the real thing everything else is crap. Which circuit has the best food and the hottest? I think the Indian Grand Prix will have the best spread. All the F1 races have hot girls, no matter which corner of the world you are in. That’s why I love this job (chuckles). Factfile Team: HRT Podium: 0 Points: 5 Highest race finish: 4 (x1)
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One year that you wished you had been in Formula One. Probably the year I started following Formula One, 1989.
Jaypee circuit (Buddh International Circuit) 5.14-kms circuit designed by renowned German architect Hermann Tilke in Greater Noida. Initial seating capacity of 120,000 will be later increased to 200,000. With highest point of elevation at 14 meters and 16 turns, the track is one of its kind. The wide entrances to corners, combination of straights and elavation permit choices of alternate lines and possibilities of overtaking. With an additional DRS (Drag Reduction System) Zone, the circuit left the drivers with high praises, with a few even comparing it to the most relished and cited tracks of Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and Suzuka in Japan. FACT FILE No. of Laps: 60, 308 km (approx.) Width: 10 -14 M Top speed: 320 km/hr No. of Sectors: 3
When you made your F1 debut, did you ever imagine that one-day you could be on the grid of the Indian Grand Prix? I honestly have had that feeling since 1999 when I was driving in Formula Three. I knew that one day there will be an Indian GP and I will be racing. I always had a strong feeling about it.
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Men Who Run The Grand Prix
Factfile Team: Connaught Years Active: 1958 races: 2
How much would you love to see an Indian driver on the grid on Oct 30? Having an Indian team is obviously a big help. An Indian driver will be an even better deal. I definitely want to see Karun in a better car next year. He served his apprenticeship in a car that he could do nothing about. He really needs to be in a team where he can show his potential because I think he can be very, very good if he gets the right car. And Narain is driving too. F1 is obviously new to this country. We’ll probably never catch up to cricket, but in 2-3 years time we hope to get very close to that game. How many countries would you like to take F1 to? We really should be at 16, to be honest. Twenty is plenty, that’s the limit. No more. I’ve been able to squeeze in 20, but I wouldn’t want to increase it. There’ll be mayhem otherwise. I really do want to go to Mexico and South Africa. We really should. America is also a country that should have an F1 race. We have a race in India and soon we’ll have one in the US. It’s great! How long have you been associated with F1? Well, I started as a competitor and then was a manager of drivers like Stuart Lewis-Evans and Jochen Rindt. I bought the Brabham team in 1972, which I ran for fifteen years. I entered the administrative side when I packaged and sold television rights in the late 70s and have just added on things from there on. I have been around a long time!
Bernie Ecclestone Bernie Ecclestone is one of the richest men in the world and has attended almost every Grand Prix since taking control of F1 in 1977. The 80-year-old is a proud workaholic, who lives in a penthouse above his office in London. He’s the man who can make the impossible happen and mints millions while doing it…
What are some of the things that you’ve changed around? When I proposed starting the race with the lights rather than the flags, people said I was totally mad. Silly things, but lot’s of ‘em, like an exploratory lap before the race so they can have a look and see if the circuits’ still all right. Small stuff that has been adopted and have stayed put forever, which I’m happy about. So I’ve sort of improved things as we’ve gone on the run. When was the first time you raced? Oh, that was immediately after the end of World War II. My first racing experience came in 1949 in the 500cc Formula 3 Series and I acquired a Cooper Mk V in 1951. I wasn’t able to compete for a long time and drove mainly on my local circuit – Brands Hatch. I used to love racing motorcycles. A good knock in 1957 when I was kind of driving in F1 took care of my racing aspirations though and yeah business and risks persuaded me to retire from the cockpit.
They say Formula One is a market which it can't be, obviously. Our market is independent, it's a sport.
You’ve wanted an Indian Grand Prix for a long time haven’t you? Oh yes! India is an exciting market and we should’ve been here years ago, but we needed the right place really. We came close a couple of times before, but it fell through at the last minute. The people we are dealing with now (JPSI) seem to be sound and solid. It’s all coming along nicely. I have no doubts in my mind that the circuit is going to be one of the nicest we have.
Will India be able to do a Singapore or Abu Dhabi? India might just pull an elephant out of its hat! I don’t know yet... No one can repeat what Singapore and Abu Dhabi have managed. I wouldn’t want anybody to copy that actually. I like to see each circuit and race with its own unique characteristics. The Indian Grand Prix is going to be grand.
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What are your other interests apart from F1? I love being busy. I’m a terrible guy to be on holiday with. A holiday for me is two days, that’s it. I can survive two days, if it gets any longer than that’s not so easy. I like all the Bond films, the Godfather trilogy and even Pretty Woman – those sorts of films. I don’t like films that have messages in them though, because I don’t want to be lectured when I go to the cinema.
the master
Architecture Multitracker
Formula 1’s
Picasso Hermann Tilke just carries on building. To date, the engineer’s tally of race tracks worldwide stands at 60. We spoke to him about polished asphalt, the new circuit in Austin, and his pride and joy - the B.I.C. interview juha päätalo
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October 2012
portrait mareike foecking
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the master
Architecture Multitracker
W
hen Hermann Tilke made a few improvements to a minor service road at the Nürburgring in the early 1990s, little did he imagine it was to be the prelude to a career building race tracks. In those days, the engineer designed landfill waste disposal sites and recycling plants: the job at the Nürburgring came about through a passion for motor racing – as a driver in the European Touring Car Championship. The Österreichring was his first new design for Formula 1; since then, Tilke GmbH has planned and built 60 race tracks worldwide. Mr. Tilke, you’re currently turning out new race tracks at the rate of one a year. You completed Korea in 2010, India in 2011, this year there’s to be one in Austin, Texas… …and next year in New Jersey. Then in 2014 it’s the turn of Sochi in Russia. How many tracks have you worked on to date? Around 60. But that includes some redesigned circuits in addition to the all-new ones. And many of those are not Formula 1 tracks. Is it still as much fun working on the 61st race track as it was on the others? Oh, sure! I really appreciate how lucky I am to get to do a job like this.
Hermann Tilke was a race driver himself before he turned to designing circuits. His latest creation – the race track in Austin, Texas and why he thinks India’s Buddh International Circuit is one of the most challenging tracks for the racers.
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October 2012
When you are asked to build a new circuit, how do you set about designing it? In most cases the site is predetermined. In Turkey there were several possibilities, as there were in Bahrain. When that’s the case, I generally visit the location to see which of the options is best. Then we inspect the site from every possible angle – its topography and soil condition, areas to avoid building on if they are marshy and would therefore exceed the budget. Then we consider wind directions and sun positions. And if the terrain is too complicated, we build a model. The area in Turkey was very hilly, so we constructed a large model and used strands of wool to indicate the various track configurations. Then, with the help of photos, we transferred them to our design drafts. Sometimes we spend days coming up with a great idea only to scrap it because it’s too expensive, or the circuit’s too long. In India, when we saw the track, four years before the race, it was a flat land and we asked the client (Jaypee Group) to move solid and earth to make the track distinct with special characteristics. We planned to bring in the earth to make elevations and make the track more hilly, so that the drivers could me exposed and tempted to make easy mistakes in the long race.
Can you compare the asphalt on a conventional highway with the material that is used for a Formula 1 circuit? No, not at all. The demands on the asphalt are completely different. We have to develop a special formula for each new circuit. Why is that? Because the forces in Formula 1 are so enormous. Formula 1 tyres no longer have grooves, which means there is no place for air to escape. The tire hits the asphalt like a hammer, generating overpressure in front of the tyre and a vacuum behind it which could pull small stones out of the asphalt. To enable the track surface to withstand this pounding, we have to use polymer fibre-reinforced bitumen. And since it makes little sense to ship stones half-way round the world, this is mixed with aggregate from local minerals. Before we apply the asphalt, it has to undergo testing in the laboratory to demonstrate resistance to wear as well as polishing. Polishing? Certain stones rub smooth very quickly when exposed to pressure. That’s no good to us, since racing on that sort of asphalt would be like driving on soap. When the asphalt has passed all the laboratory tests, we lay a trial section of track on site to see how it handles. Do you also consult with tyre manufacturers about the asphalt? No, tyres are evolving all the time and for us it’s important that the asphalt is still up to the job ten years or more down the line. Have you ever failed to complete a challenge? There have often been moments when I felt that might happen. In Shanghai, for example, when we examined the subsurface we discovered that the whole area was sitting on 300 metres [1,000 ft] of bog. First we had to drill 40,000 posts, each 20 to 40 metres [65–130 ft] deep. Then we laid 14 metres [46 ft] of expanded polystyrene under the track – about the same volume the Chinese market gets through in a year. Finally, the polystyrene was covered with a metre [3 ft] of soil to enable us to lay the circuit on top. In India, the last asphalt layer was done later than usual which became a big concern for us. But by the end of it everything had fallen into place. Your circuit designs often borrow features from local architecture – I’m thinking of the “banana
leaf ” roof that covers the main grandstand in Malaysia, or for that matter the team buildings in Abu Dhabi, which were made to resemble traditional clay huts. We always aim to draw on the design language of the country in question in order to create a high recognition value. We want people to know where they are, since sports venues have such a high public profile worldwide. The Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing could have been a much simpler design. But the Chinese chose otherwise, because as hosts of the Olympic Games it was their chance to show themselves to the world. It’s exactly the same in Formula 1. We have heard your plans for the new circuit in Austin. What sort of recognition value will that have? That’s bound to emanate from the very undulating topography of the site. As you can see from the outline of the circuit, the site itself was long and narrow. The first step was to decide on the most suitable place for the start/finish line. Immediately after the start/finish straight there’s a hill that comes right at you. From the driver’s perspective, it’s almost as if you’re heading right towards a wall. The first corner is blind – that’s going to catch a few drivers out.
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1) The Bahrain circuit is in the middle of the desert and features six left-hand and eight right-hand turns. It was inaugurated in 2004. 2) Motorland Aragon in Spain was completed in July 2009 and is currently used as a Formula 1 test facility. In addition to the circuit, it boasts a technology centre, hotels, shops and an amusement park.
You’re obviously enjoying the thought? Sure, we like catching drivers out. And we’ve already seen it happen on the McLaren simulator. So even after meticulously planning and designing 60 race tracks, there are still things that can surprise you? Of course. Even with new circuits things can fail and minor details often go wrong, because every circuit is a prototype. When Formula 1 is in town, it takes over the facility like a swarm of bees – and everyone expects everything to work. Of course, not everything goes entirely according to plan the first time round, but that’s the way it’s always been. We’re invariably on site for the first grand prix to be able to troubleshoot any problems that might crop up.
Tilke’s circuitry
3) Hermann Tilke achieved his breakthrough as a race track architect with the circuit in Sepang. Malaysia has since hosted 16 grand prix.
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What do you see yourself as? An architect? An engineer? An artist? Or all? I’m an engineer. My partner Peter Wahl is an architect. But I suppose you still test-drive your own circuits? Oh, absolutely. When the job’s done, I always try to get hold of a racing car of one class or another so that I can go round the circuit and get an idea of how it drives. But I also inspect it early on, when it’s still at the dirt track stage. In an off-roader? Exactly. I usually set the first lap record at around one-and-ahalf or two hours.
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R a c e D ay
Second Edition: Indian Grand Prix
Race of the
titans We list out the racers you should be following closely at the Indian Grand Prix that kick starts this month
Fernando Alonso Team: Ferrari Victories this year: 3 (Malaysia, Europe and Germany) Victories last year: 1 (Britain) Position at Indian GP, 2011: 3 In spite of some minor injuries, stiff shoulder and back pain caused during the opening-lap crash involving Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosiean during the Belgian Grand Prix, the 29-year-old Spanish dude came back for Italian GP, and looks pretty solid for Indian leg.
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October 2012
Nico Rosberg Team: Mercedes Victories this year: None Victories last year: 1 (Chinese) Position at Indian GP, 2011: 6 All of those who were amazed by his solo victory in China having been deprived of yet another win. There has been an over all drop in the team’s performance, but the team management is doing everything possible to push the team performance.
Michael Schumacher Team: Mercedes Victories this year: None Victories last year: None Position at Indian GP, 2011: 5 Once a blue eyed boy of Ferrari, Schumacher has been trying to justify his comeback. Though the spark that he oozed during his golden years on the track is missing, we still have a soft side for him. After all, F1 was synonymous with him.
Jenson Button Team: McLaren Victories this year: 2 (Australian and Belgian) Victories last year: 3 Canadian, Hungarian and Japanese) Position at Indian GP, 2011: 4 Like many other drivers on the track, even he was being coaxed into hanging up his boots, but Button’s lights to flag Belgian GP victory reminded all of those who wrote him off just because of a few disappointing of his driving skills.
Mark Webber Team: Redbull Victories this year: 2 (Monaco and British) Victories last year: 1 (Brazilian) Position at Indian GP, 2011: 4 The Australian driver was penalised for an unscheduled gearbox change in Belgium, however, he has been toiling hard to justify his inclusion in the team and extended contract for 2013 season too.
Lewis Hamilton Team: McLaren Victories this year: 2 (Canadian and Hungarian) Victories last year: 2 (Chinese and Abu Dhabi) Position at Indian GP, 2011: 7 More than his racing capabilities, which is really good, his continued existence in the team is being talked about because the rumours of him shifting to Merc is the talk of the talk. Though the racer and the team management have denied the rumours.
Kimi Raikkonen Team: Lotus-Renault Victories this year: None Victories last year: Didn’t race Position at Indian GP, 2011: Didn’t race The 32-year-old Finn returned to Formula 1 this year after being out of the F1 track for two years, which he spent rallying. Kimi has gone down well in most of the races that he has participated, and his spruced-up car will make things a bit more favourable for him.
Sebastian Vettel Team: Red Bull Victories this year: 1 (Bahrain) Victories last year: 11 Position at Indian GP, 2011: 1 Clearly not the best year for the 25-yearold racer because his slowing pace is worrying his team owners and giving his critiques yet another reason to carp him, however, a surprise couldn’t be ruled out. He still remains one of the best men the F1 track has ever seen.
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India’s New Weekend Passion
A show of
speed and Design
What the Buddh International Circuit is up to when it’s not hosting the fastest, most exciting, championship-clinching races...
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October 2012
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India’s New Weekend Passion
fast & furious
Ferrari Driving Esperienca When it comes to think of sports car, who can miss out the Prancing horse of a Ferrari. Ferrari considers its driving activities to be amongst the most These important of the ones it organises for its existing and prospective clients. pleasure the te apprecia fully to ants invaluable sessions really do allow particip sts got a and exhilaration of driving a Prancing horse car. Avid Ferrari enthusia nced first hand experience of driving the 458, the California and the FF. Experie the to dos aficiona auto the ed Ferrari trainers from around the world introduc took the mean machines and the technology which goes in it. The seven day event cal theoreti and l practica h thoroug through rs custome sessions on optimal driving lines, braking , cornering FF and much more. The Ferrari experts briefed the Engine: 6.3 L V12 onlookers to even the slightest detail involved in Speed: 334 kmh handling of the car — how to brake on the track at Power: 660 PS high speed, what is the ideal sitting position behind the wheel and so on. The three models enable the 458 Italia drivers to feel and test individual DNA system of Engine: 4.5 L V8 each car and what its strengths are. After driving are drivers the circuit, Speed: 325 kmh the the FF and 458 freely on This roads. wet on ia Californ the slalom to Power: 570 PS ed instruct task enables the driver to understand the traction of the car and the smooth handling of the car. California Engine: 4.3 L V8 Speed: 312 kmh Power: 490 PS
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October 2012
M Power Drive
BMW M5
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AMG Driving Academy
Mercedes SLS AMG
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Factfile Engine: 6.2 L V8 Speed: 317 kmh Power: 571 PS
he first ever session of the AMG Driving Academy at the Buddh International circuit was an affair to remember. The BASIC-Training programme of the academy was a well attended affair, where participants got a chance to learn how to skillfully drive AMG vehicles with increased driving pleasure and better safety. Norman Simon, former race driver and an expert instructor at AMG Driving Academy was present at the session to showcase the endless possibilities of learning at the driving academy. The Hotlaps in SLS AMG with Norman added further flavour to the experience. The academy is the first-of-its-kind in India and third outside Germany. For more information log on to www.amgdrivingacademy.co.in.
Factfile Engine: 4.4 L V8 Speed: 305 kmh Power: 560 Ps
MW customers got the chance to feel the real power, the agility, the acceleration and precision of the BMW M5 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. The M5 boasts of the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced model – a newly developed, high revving V8 with M TwinPower Turbo technology producing maximum output of 412 kW/560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 680 Newton metres (502 lb-ft) between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. Capable of touching 100 kmph in as little as 4.4 seconds, the worldclass F1 track was the perfect place for the M5 to showcase its true racing DNA. Through the M Power Drive, the BMW customers realised why the moniker ‘M’ is the most powerful one in India. Though the M Power Drive has been hosted around the world, it was the maiden drive in India. At the event, the BMW aficionados witnessed the dynamic range of BMW M cars including the BMW M3 and the all-new BMW M5. The new M5 is built on the tradition of its predecessors with one aim only – redefine the performance delivered by four-door saloons. Its innovative Active M differential which optimises power transfer to the rear wheels and model-specific chassis technology developed on the back of BMW’s extensive racing expertise further cement the M5 as the leader in high-performance sedans. Displaying the conceptual harmony, state-of-the-art technology and astonishingly dynamic handling for which BMW M series has become renowned; the fifth-generation BMW M5 stirs the passion of keen drivers for top performance and blends it, in inimitable style, with the universal qualities of a topclass premium sedan.
Exhilarating Sports
Audi R8 V10
Car Experience
aker paved nother big German autom Factfile erstand, und to t in ways for its loyalis the in Engine: 5.2 L V10 g nin trai ve nsi inte drive and receive 0 at V1 R8 Speed: 317 kmh di Au d ere ine eng exceptionally m offers one of gra Power: 525 PS pro se pha 2 The . BIC the t, with dynamic the most attractive forma dules conducted slalom and lap training mo ed instructors by internationally acclaim ‘racetrack .2 litre,525 PS) beasts. The 0(5 V1 on a fleet of Audi R8 such as lls ski ’s ver dri a g nin on sharpe experience program’ focus track. On e rac a ng and sector training on handling, steering, breaki s more on use foc ed’ ck experience advanc drivers the other hand the ‘racetra the g kin ma by g vin of race track dri rity understanding the ethics ula reg over and under steering and is nce understand the race lines, erie exp car circuit. The Audi sports the tests to master the entire of ts par nt ere diff t tracks throughou conducted on several race erience for d an unmatched driving exp ate cre has ia Ind world and in perfection s ize s. The Audi R8 V10 epitom avid sports car enthusiast winning rd awa its nce a chance to experie and gives the speed lovers engineering prowess.
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India’s New Weekend Passion
Sameer Gaur,MD and CEO, JPSI addresses participants during the briefing session
Ferrari 458 Italia approaching turn two of the Buddh International Circuit Cars that were part of the MTS blaze day held at BIC
Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn at BIC
Nico Hulkenberg gears up for a drive on the Buddh International Circuit The temporary setup for Go karting at BIC
Cars that were judged for the NDTV Car & Bike awards 2012
Ready to go! Bikers head out for laps of the Buddh International Circuit
Lamborghini Aventador leaves the pit lane during the Cannonball club track day
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October 2012