Harpreet Seehra
Elite
Force India owner Vijay Mallya has defended the vast sums of money spent on bringing Formula One to his homeland where poverty and destitution are rife.
The new Buddh International Circuit is part of a £250million Sport City complex currently being built in Greater Noida, situated 35 kilometres south-east of New Delhi, by conglomerate the Jaypee Group.
In addition, it is likely as promoters they will also be paying a fee in the region of £20million per annum to simply host the event.
Given 30% of the Indian population currently live on less than one pound per day, it appears an exorbitant extravagance that millions of pounds can be wasted on a sporting event like F1.
But Mallya, who was at the heart of the campaign to bring F1 to India, said: "In every country there are the privileged and under-privileged, and we have under-privileged people in our country, but that doesn't mean the country must be weighed down.
"India is a progressive country; we have a strongly growing, large economy, and the government is doing all it can to address the needs of the poor, or under-privileged people, but India must move on.
"Back in 1990 we consciously made a decision to integrate ourselves into the world economy, to open up from an era of total government control, and the country must continue to move forward.
"The Commonwealth Games were held here last year, now it's Formula One, and I'm sure there will be several more global events in our country in the future because this is a world-class country in many ways.
"Sure, we have our problems, but those are being addressed."
Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn stood firmly behind Mallya, insisting that despite the glitz and glamour of F1 that is in stark contrast to the slums around New Delhi, the sport has to be a positive.
"People comment on the contrast of something like F1 within the communities of India, but if we don't come here how can we help?" questioned Brawn.
"How can we contribute to making things move forward if F1 stays away from India? What solution does that provide?
"It doesn't provide any solutions, so with F1 coming to India maybe we can contribute in a small way to the development of India as a nation.
"F1 appeals because it is an area of high technology, and India is an area that is rapidly advancing, so it is a great fit."
Certainly Mallya could not have been prouder yesterday as he watched his team's cars, sporting the colours of the Indian flag - green, orange and white - line up at the end of the pit lane at the start of first practice.
"Arriving at the circuit and hearing the sound of Formula One engines in India again was a very special moment," added Mallya.
"It's something I have dreamed of for over 30 years and this weekend will be a very emotional one for me."
The new Buddh International Circuit is part of a £250million Sport City complex currently being built in Greater Noida, situated 35 kilometres south-east of New Delhi, by conglomerate the Jaypee Group.
In addition, it is likely as promoters they will also be paying a fee in the region of £20million per annum to simply host the event.
Given 30% of the Indian population currently live on less than one pound per day, it appears an exorbitant extravagance that millions of pounds can be wasted on a sporting event like F1.
But Mallya, who was at the heart of the campaign to bring F1 to India, said: "In every country there are the privileged and under-privileged, and we have under-privileged people in our country, but that doesn't mean the country must be weighed down.
"India is a progressive country; we have a strongly growing, large economy, and the government is doing all it can to address the needs of the poor, or under-privileged people, but India must move on.
"Back in 1990 we consciously made a decision to integrate ourselves into the world economy, to open up from an era of total government control, and the country must continue to move forward.
"The Commonwealth Games were held here last year, now it's Formula One, and I'm sure there will be several more global events in our country in the future because this is a world-class country in many ways.
"Sure, we have our problems, but those are being addressed."
Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn stood firmly behind Mallya, insisting that despite the glitz and glamour of F1 that is in stark contrast to the slums around New Delhi, the sport has to be a positive.
"People comment on the contrast of something like F1 within the communities of India, but if we don't come here how can we help?" questioned Brawn.
"How can we contribute to making things move forward if F1 stays away from India? What solution does that provide?
"It doesn't provide any solutions, so with F1 coming to India maybe we can contribute in a small way to the development of India as a nation.
"F1 appeals because it is an area of high technology, and India is an area that is rapidly advancing, so it is a great fit."
Certainly Mallya could not have been prouder yesterday as he watched his team's cars, sporting the colours of the Indian flag - green, orange and white - line up at the end of the pit lane at the start of first practice.
"Arriving at the circuit and hearing the sound of Formula One engines in India again was a very special moment," added Mallya.
"It's something I have dreamed of for over 30 years and this weekend will be a very emotional one for me."
