Buddh International Circuit

Coordinates: 28°21′2″N 77°32′6″E / 28.35056°N 77.53500°E / 28.35056; 77.53500
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Buddh International Circuit
India's Racing Arena
LocationGreater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Time zoneGMT +5:30 (Indian Standard Time)
Coordinates28°21′2″N 77°32′6″E / 28.35056°N 77.53500°E / 28.35056; 77.53500
Capacity120,000[1]
OwnerJaypee Group
OperatorJaypee Sports International Limited
OpenedOctober 2011
Construction cost₹20 billion (US$400 million)[2]
ArchitectHermann Tilke
Major eventsFIA Formula One
Indian Grand Prix
(2011-2013)
T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship by Tata Motors
Grand Prix Circuit
SurfaceAsphalt concrete with Graywacke aggregate
Length5.125 km (3.185 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:27.249 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 2011, Formula One)

The Buddh International Circuit[3] (बुद्ध अन्तरराष्ट्रीय परिपथ) is an Indian motor racing circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, 40 km from Delhi.[4] The 120,000-capacity[1] circuit was best known as the venue for the annual Formula One Indian Grand Prix, which was first hosted on 30 October 2011 [5] but has been suspended since 27 October 2013 due to a tax dispute with the Uttar Pradesh government.[6]

The track was officially inaugurated on 18 October 2011.[7][8] The 5.13 km long circuit was designed by German architect and racetrack designer Hermann Tilke.[9][10]

Design

Formula One racing's governing body, the FIA, had announced the inclusion of the Indian Grand Prix for 30 October 2011.[11] Estimated to cost about ₹20 billion[12] ($400 million) to build, the circuit has an approximate length of 5.13 km and is spread over an area of 874 acres (354ha)[13] and is another creation of Hermann Tilke. The circuit was officially inaugurated on 18 October 2011,[14] just about two weeks before the first race. The seating capacity is initially expected to be 110,000[12] with provisions to increase it to 200,000[15] later on.

Circuit

Paddock Club at Buddh International Circuit

The circuit is part of the 2,500-acre (1,000 ha) Jaypee Greens Sports City,[13] which has increasingly delayed plans to include a 100,000 seating capacity international cricket stadium, 18-hole golf course, 25,000 seat field hockey stadium and a sports academy. The circuit design incorporated feedback from the teams on how the circuit could be altered to improve overtaking. This resulted in some minor changes before 2010: the planned hairpin at turn seven was removed, and the track at turn three was widened to allow drivers to take different lines throughout the corner. More information was released in August 2010, revealing that there were plans to make the circuit one of the most challenging for drivers, with the circuit rising fourteen metres within the first three corners alone and a banked double-apex bend on the far side of the circuit.[16] The track has since been praised by drivers, including Lewis Hamilton who compared it to the classic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.[17]

The banked multi-apex turn 10–11–12 sequence is one of the most notable sections of the circuit. It has been likened to the long, fast Turn 8 at Turkey’s Istanbul Park circuit as it is a challenging sequence that generates high tyre loadings. Unlike Turkey’s Turn 8, it tightens on exit and is a clockwise right-hander. Although it is not one of the main overtaking points, it is the corner that shows F1 cars to their full cornering potential. The circuit’s main straight, at 1060m, is among the longest in F1, with a key overtaking point at its end. The pitlane is also one of the longest in F1, at more than 600 metres: as in most races with pit stops, time spent in the pitlane is an important factor in determining race strategies.[18]

Before the opening weekend, the expected lap time for a Formula One car around the track was 1 minute, 27.02 seconds, at an average speed of 210.03 km/h (131 mph). At the end of the long straight between corners 3 and 4, Formula One cars were expected to reach a top speed of about 318 km/h (198 mph).[19] In the inaugural qualifying session, Sebastian Vettel turned in a lap time of 1 minute, 24.178 seconds, beating the predicted lap times from tyre manufacturer Pirelli. Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari posted the top speed through the speed trap, reaching 324.2 km/h.

The relatively compact circuit was due to host a GT1 World Championship round as the season finale in December 2012,[20] but the event was cancelled. The circuit also hosts a Superbike World Championship round for four seasons since 2013.[21] But the 2013 race was cancelled due to operation charges of Buddh International Circuit.[22] No international championships visited Buddh since 2014.

Reception

The reception among drivers was overwhelmingly positive,[23] with praise directed towards the high-speed layout and challenging corner combinations that Jenson Button described as difficult to drive in a consistently quick fashion.

The circuit has been often compared by F1 drivers to the classic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a track known for high speeds and the type of corner-to-corner flow that comes from natural terrain. Inaugural winner Sebastian Vettel praised the track saying that "there is a lot of elevation change around the lap which adds to the fun, from as much as 8% downhill and up to 10% uphill; it’s like a roller coaster. It really has emerged as one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar for the drivers."[24]

However, The Guardian points out the controversial way in which the track was cleared for construction and the labour problems.[25]

Originally known as the Jaypee Group Circuit or the Jaypee International Circuit after the circuit's owners, the circuit was officially named the Buddh International Circuit in April 2011. According to Sameer Gaur, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jaypee Sports International Limited, the name ‘Buddh International Circuit’ has been chosen with reference to the area where the racetrack is situated – Gautam Buddh Nagar district (also known as Greater Noida). Because of its location, naming the circuit ‘Buddh International Circuit’ was a logical choice for the company.[26] The Buddh International circuit logo consists of a ‘B’ which also resembles a heart.[27] The BIC logo is a stylized ‘B,’ the letter that stands for ‘Buddh’ and for ‘Bharat.’ The saffron, green and white colours used in the logo are representative of the Indian flag, while the curves in the stylized ‘B’ in the logo represent the lines of a racetrack.[28]

Awards and recognition

Buddh International Circuit, which hosted India's first Formula One Grand Prix on 30 October 2011, has been awarded the '2011 Motorsport Facility of the Year' award at the Professional Motorsport World Expo 2011.[29] BIC has also been honored with the 'Best Promoter Trophy' for the successful conduct of Formula One races in 2011 & 2012 at the FIA prize giving gala.[30]

Gallery

  • Force India racing at Buddh
    Force India racing at Buddh
  • Podium winners of the 2011 Indian Grand Prix
    Podium winners of the 2011 Indian Grand Prix
  • Pitlane walks - 2011 Indian Grand Prix
    Pitlane walks - 2011 Indian Grand Prix
  • Fernando Alonso racing at Buddh in 2011
    Fernando Alonso racing at Buddh in 2011
  • Prima T1 truck Racing at BIC
    Prima T1 truck Racing at BIC

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Buddh International Circuit". World of Stadiums. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Why India's Formula 1 Grand Prix is under threat". BBC News. 24 October 2013.
  3. ^ "F1 Indian GP venue named 'Buddh International Circuit'". India Times. 9 April 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Mansi Taneja (26 October 2013). "As F1 cars zoom in Buddh circuit, realty prices soar along expressway". Business Standard. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. ^ "India company says on track for 2011 F1 race". Reuters. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Ecclestone rules out 2015 Indian GP". The Hindu. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Buddh International Circuit unveiled amidst cheers". Zee News. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  8. ^ "Indian F1 venue Buddh International Circuit to open today". OnCars. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Philosophy behind the Buddh International Circuit" (PDF). Jaypee Sports.
  10. ^ - "Huge reaction for 2012 Indian F1 Grand Prix", Indian Grand Prix, India. Retrieved on 27 August 2012.
  11. ^ "India officially reinstated on October 30". ESPN. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b "A whole new ballgame". Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Jaypee". The Times Of India. 4 December 2009.
  14. ^ "Buddh International Circuit inaugurated for India's F1 date". The Times of India. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  15. ^ Deepa Jainani (16 January 2009). "India on course for 2011 F1 Grand Prix". The Financial Express. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Team input "invaluable" to Indian circuit". Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  17. ^ "Hamilton: BIC circuit is something of a revelation". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  18. ^ "World Motor Sport Council: 27/10/2011". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  19. ^ "India names F1 track after Buddha – Buddh International Circuit". Inautonews.com. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  20. ^ "India's Buddh International Circuit to host finale of 2012 GT1 Championship". GT1 World Championship. Autocar India. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  21. ^ "India's Buddh International Circuit to join 2013 World Superbike calendar". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  22. ^ "The Superbike World Championship cancels its 2013 season-ending round in India". Superbike World Championship. foxsports.com. 15 August 2013.
  23. ^ "India: Friday practice – selected team and driver quotes". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Drivers praise India's 'Spa-like' Buddh circuit". Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  25. ^ "Indian Grand Prix: workers on F1 circuit 'living in destitution'". The Guardian. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  26. ^ "Indian track titled Buddh International". Autosport. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  27. ^ "Indian GP unveils logo and rename circuit as Buddh International Circuit". F1Adda. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  28. ^ "Philosophy behind the name and the logo" (PDF). Jaypee Sports.
  29. ^ "Buddh International Circuit wins '2011 Motorsport Facility of the Year' award". indian car bikes. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  30. ^ "BIC bagged Motorsport Facility of the Year award". F1 India. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.

External links

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