The year 2011 will see India hosting the ultimate racing event, the F 1 at its Greater Nodia track, on the outskirts of Delhi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The Formula One will thus stretch to a record 20 races next year. The race is expected to be held in the yet to be completed track on October 30, 2011. According to F1 communication, this race will be subject to the track clearing all homologation norms.
The race will be held in India provided the facility in Greater Nodia passes an inspection by the International Automobile Federation (FIA). The track being currently built by the Jaypee group is about 50 to 60 km from Delhi. Sometime in 2007 the FIA had signed an agreement with JPSK Sports Pvt Ltd to organise the race in India. The deal was estimated worth Rs 1600 crore at that time.
The 20-race calendar will now read like this in 2011; March 13, Bahrain GP, Sakhir ; March 27, Australian GP, Albert Park; April 10, Malaysian GP, Sepang; April 17, Chinese GP, Shanghai; May 8, Turkish GP, Istanbul; May 22, Spanish GP, Catalunya; May 29, Monaco GP, Monte Carlo; June 12, Canadian GP, Montreal; June 26, European GP, Valencia; July 10, British GP, Silverstone; July 24, German GP, Hockenheim; July 31, Hungarian GP, Budapest; Aug 28, Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps; Sept 11, Italian GP, Monza; September 25, Singapore GP; October 9, Japanese GP, Suzuka; October 16, Korean GP, Yeongam; October 30, Indian GP, Greater Noida (subject to homologation of the circuit); November 13, Abu Dhabi GP; November 27, Brazilian GP, Interlagos.
Circuit Design and Safety
According to F 1 official communication, circuit design has a major influence on the number and severity of accidents, hence venues wishing to stage a Grand Prix must meet very high track safety requirements, designed to avoid or minimise impacts in the event of a car leaving the road.
Run-off zones are carefully placed around the circuit. These are empty spaces directly beside the actual track, designed to passively or actively decelerate an out-of-control car, and prevent a collision with track walls or barriers. During the past year an increasing number of asphalted spaces have been introduced at various circuits as drivers have a better chance of regaining control of their vehicle. Previously, gravel traps were more common.
Although gravel has a decelerating effect the chances of controlling the car are fairly low and the danger of getting stuck is rather high. However, gravel traps still have their place on certain corners. The traps are normally about 25 centimetres deep and filled with spherical gravel stones of between 5 and 16 millimetres diameter. The stones are designed to generate as much frictional resistance as possible - like sand scattered on an icy pavement - and so reduce the speed of a skidding car quickly and effectively.
If a car gets stuck in a gravel trap in a potentially dangerous position, marshals are allowed to push it back on to the track provided that it is still in running condition. In the event of an accident, it is usually track marshals who are first on the scene. On all FIA-approved circuits a marshal and a fire extinguisher must be posted along both sides of the track every 300 metres.
It is not just on the circuit that safety regulations apply. In the pit lane drivers must adhere to a strictly enforced speed limit - normally 60 km/h during free practice and 100 km/h during qualifying and the race.