We haven't scratched the surface in India, pushing for more events including Formula 1: FIA president Ben Sulayem
The Hindu
A round of Formula E on Saturday in Karnataka was India's first world championship status race in 10 years
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem feels a combination of hosting high-profile racing events like Formula 1 and extensive work at the grassroots is what India needs to revive motorsport in the country.
Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the inaugural Formula E race in Hyderabad, the first non-European president of the world governing body for car racing, spoke on a range of issues including his plans for a big market like India, women in motorsport, the pressing need to make the sport more affordable and why he has stepped back from the day to day running of FIA.
"In my manifesto (ahead of his election in December 2021) I had mentioned how important India is. Not because I am here, not because I am the president," said Ben Sulayem, a former rally driver from the UAE.
"India and China both have the manufacturers, both have the numbers. We have not scratched the surface yet. I mean it when I say this. We are talking about 2.8 billion people in these two countries and we have less than 8000 competitive licenses.
"We need to grow but how do we grow? There is no one size that fits all. India is different so we have to listen to people here. We have to empower ASN (Indian governing body FMSCI) to make sure that we are doing the right thing."
A round of Formula E on Sunday was India's first world championship status race in 10 years. The Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix was discontinued after three races due to financial and bureaucratic hurdles.
Formula E and a MotoGP race scheduled later this year is seen as a much needed boost to Indian motorsport and Ben Sulayam hopes the momentum can be sustained.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.