Formula One looks towards the East

Mar 6, 2008, 10:29 GMT

Singapore GP computerised image released 05 March 2008 of the grand stands area of the inaugural Formula One night race on a circuit of public roads in Singapore. The Singapore Grand Prix will take place on 29 September 2008 in the city-state. EPA/SINGAPORE GP / HO

Hamburg - Not long ago Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told reporters that his theory was: 'Go East, young man, not Go West,', and although at the time he was referring mainly to Russia and more particularly the country's capital Moscow, he seems to have put his theory into practise.

Joining the traditional Eastern Grand Prixs of Malaysia and Japan, Ecclestone has managed to introduce China (starting in 2004), Bahrain (starting 2004), Singapore (starting this year) and India (to start in 2010) to the ever-growing Grand Prix calendar.

One of the reasons why Ecclestone has sought to move the show to the East is to seek new markets, both in terms of fans and - more importantly - sponsorship, advertising and corporate hospitality.

Singapore will have the privilege of hosting the first night race in the history of Formula One, a fact that had Ecclestone waxing lyrically at the official announcement.

'I am very pleased to welcome Singapore to the Formula One family and we look forward to this exotic addition to the championship. This will be the first fully lit street race in Formula One.

'As a night race we anticipate it will quickly establish itself as one of the most dramatic and atmospheric races on our calendar. I know the Formula One drivers, teams and fans are all looking forward to coming to Singapore next year,' he said.

This year also sees an Indian team joining the title race for the first time.

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, who is the chairman and CEO of The United Breweries Group and Kingfisher Airlines took over the ailing Spyker team for a reported 88 million pounds (175 million dollars) and renamed it Force India F1 team.

Mallya, who first became involved in Formula One racing as a sponsor with Kingfisher Airlines of the Toyota team, says he believes his team will benefit from the booming Indian economy. 'F1 and India go together. If India wasn't booming economically, I wouldn't be involved.

'India has a very young population and Formula One is very exciting. There are millions and millions of Indians who could be potential Formula One fans. And Spyker was on the market. So that is why I'm here, that is why the name of the team is Force India.

'There is a very strong connection. It is not normal that a team brings a whole country behind it. There is a huge amount of excitement. It's challenging, but it's exciting'.

Unlike some of the smaller team which seem content to be just competing in the race, Mallya sees his team competing for a podium place in the foreseeable future. 'We have doubled the budget and now it's time for me to demand the development. The goal is being on the podium in the Indian Grand Prix in 2010.'

To achieve his goal, the billionaire has opted for experienced drivers, rather than give the only Indian Grand Prix driver Narain Karthikeyan a seat.

'Karthikheyan does not have the experience the team needs. We have made the selection of the drivers with a clear focus - the experience. We wanted that experience to help the engineers to develop the car, to make it more reliable, more driveable, more competitive.'

Germany's Adrian Sutil and former Renault competitor Giancarlo Fisichella will have the distinction of being the first drivers in an Indian-owned team. 'Adrian Sutil is very talented, he has a lot of motivation, he'll improve significantly with the help of Giancarlo Fisichella, who is like his big brother.'

If Sutil or Fisichella can bring success to Force India, it could well be that not only more and more Asian races are added to the calendar, but that other Asian teams compete, thereby proving Ecclestone's theory right.