Ambitious but (not) Rubbish​

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Keen viewers of the television series ‘TopGear’ will immediately recognize the title phrase. For those who do not what TopGear is, well here you go. It’s the most watched car show in the world with over 350 million global audiences. Though the show is mainly supposed to focus on cars and the automotive sector at large, it’s not really the case. TopGear is known for its tongue in cheek comedy and outright fun ways of testing cars. The presenters always end up challenging the ordinary by building amphibious cars, electric cars, convertible people carriers; you name it. However, they all end with a fireball and ‘ambitious but rubbish’ statement.

So, why am I talking about it here you ask? Well, the other day, when I was watching a formula 1 grand prix, my dad asked a simple question. (You can probably solve a differential equation easier than answering such honest queries.) It went something like this; “Who would pay a fortune to see these cars go round in circles?!” I’m sure those who don’t follow the sport will side with him, but what about us lot? I tried putting in the emotional side of it explaining the roar of V8s, the sheer speed and guts exhibited by drivers etc., After some intense and passionate lecture, he downright declined it! According to him, it’s completely pointless from many perspectives. Overpaid drivers, environment pollution, were some logical reasons cited for this. What really closed the argument was that had all the money spent on the racetrack been given to the country’s development, we’d probably be eating better chapathis right now!
Though I partially agree with this logic, I must say, all such ambitious projects attract this “give it the poor” arguments. If you still haven’t understood why I’m saying this, it’s because of the upcoming India GP. Hundreds of crores have been spent on building the track and necessary infrastructure. The Jaypee group has given an open statement that it will lose about 35 crore INR for every race. It again begs the question, why build something to incur a loss?
Well, you see F1 is the most glamorous sport in the world. Period. It’ll be watched by millions around the world with investors and brands tacking notice of all this. When we can show the world that we can build a worldclass facitlity in record time, it’ll out our nation on the map. Investments start trickling into the country from everywhere. I’m sure such a sport is what will act as a platform for many to take notice of India. That alone is enough to justify all this hype. The Jaypee group is confident that they will make up the losses incurred by other events happening at the race track. I can already see many brands leveraging the grand prix as a platform to advertise and connect with the youth. One of the 20 or so countries to host an F1 race will definitely give our country the modern outlook we need. Numerous industries will directly and indirectly be benefited from this event alone. Ala TopGear, although we’ve been ambitious here, I’m sure at the end of the day, it’ll definitely not be rubbish.
 
 
 

Comments

Shishir said…
I hope that introduction of formula1 actually encourages all other forms of motorsport in India. The current motorsport scene in India is almost nothing in front of cricket mania!

Karting should be encouraged which would then enable young Indians to actually acquire the skills required for professional racing. All formula1 drivers started with go-karts ;) who knows, we might see am Indian driver in the top 10 in formula1 in a few years.
October 19, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Tejus Subbanna said…
Yup, agreed. Many karting heroes go on to become F1 legends.

I'm really looking forward to this even for more reasons than one!
October 20, 2011 at 10:23 PM
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