Tuesday 1 May 2012

Love speed? Get behind the wheel at BIC


Do you have a valid car/bike driving license and love zipping through the lane? Then the world's fastest racing circuits is waiting for you.

The inaugural Open Track Day was organised at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) on April 22.

The response? Terrific as car/bike lovers couldn’t stop yelling for more.

Not just this. The Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) organised a ‘Taxi Ride’ for those who wanted to enjoy sitting next to the driver and feel the adrenaline rush.


The inaugural Open Track Day was pre-divided for those who got themselves registered for the first-hand experience.

The car/bike slots were divided into three sessions, of 20-minute each, where fans could either choose to go for one or all three.

The cost for a bike and car (one session) was Rs 4,999 and Rs 7,599, respectively.

Those who opted for all the three sessions were given a concessional rates of Rs. 9,999 (bike), and Rs18,749 (car).


I spoke to a couple of riders after the first bike session and found that at the Turn 1, they found it a bit difficult to balance their machines, but they loved driving through Turn 3 and Turn 4.The maximum speed at Turn 3 and Turn 4was 285 kmph.

After the three sessions, the riders got familiarised with the Turns and the Breaking Points. Rest was sheer thrill!

The excitement was such that several drivers had bought new pairs of bike/cars accessories.

I came across following super-bikes and the cars on Open Track Day:

Bikes: Suzuki Hayabusa GSXR1300, Suzuki Hayabusa / 2010, Honda CBR 1000 RR/ 2010, CBR1000RR-2010, Suzuki Hayabusa, Ducati / Superbike 848 Evo, Honda CBR 1000RR, BMW K1300R, BMW S1000RR, M/V Augusta F-4, Ducati 999, Honda CBR 250R, Ducati 795, Suzuki Hayabusa GSXR 1300, Honda CBR 250R, Ducati 795,Yamaha R15, Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10 R, Ninja ZX 12R, Hyosung GT650R.


Cars: Mitsubishi Lancer Invex, Mahindra XUV 500, Mercedes E270, Jaguar XF, BMW 320 D, Honda City, Honda Civic, Maruti 800, BMW X6, Audi A6, BMW 320 D, Hyundai Santafe, Porsche Panamera 4S, BMW, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai I10, Maruti ZEN,Volkswagen Polo, Maruti Baleno and Ford Fiesta.


Aditi, my colleague, interviewed a couple of speed lovers. Check out what they had to say:

Dr. Arun Theraja, Founder of G.O.D.S. Group: “I drove Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10 R. I hit the maximum speed of 280 kmph on Turn 3 and Turn 4 on my favorite turn.The BIC track is 10/10.”
Harsh Agarwal: “I droveWestfield Sport 2000 and touched 190 kmph on Turn 3 and 4. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to come here again.”

Gurvinder Singh: “I rode BMWS1000RR and my second session was fantastic, at 285 kmph on Turn 3and Turn 4.

The car/bike riders had a wonderful day and each one of them wanted to experience the thrill again. Well,they are not far from that.

If you want to be part of the utmost driving experience where screeching tyres, burning rubber, no traffic signals and speed-breakers welcome you, then you have to be here --at India’s only F1 Circuit called Buddh international Circuit at Greater Noida.

The next Open Track Day is expected on June 10.

To book slots, e-mail us at bic.timetrail@jalindia.co.in

Mugello test - driver line up 2012


Redbull


Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Mark Webber
Wednesday (2-05-2012)-  Mark Webber/Sebastian Vettel
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Sebastian Vettel


McLaren


Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) -  Oliver Turvey/Gary Paffett
Wednesday (2-05-2012)-  Gary Paffett
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Oliver Turvey

Ferrari


Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Fernando Alonso
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Felipe Massa
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Fernando Alonso

Mercedes

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Nico Rosberg/Michael Schumacher
Wednesday (2-05-2012)-  Michael Schumacher
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Nico Rosberg



Lotus

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Jerome D’Ambrosio
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Kimi Raikkonen
Thursday (3-05-2012)- Romain Grosjean
Force India

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) -  Jules Bianchi
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Paul di Resta
Thursday (3-05-2012)- Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Kamui Kobayashi
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Kamui Kobayashi
Thursday (3-05-2012)- Sergio Perez



Toro Rosso

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Jean-Eric Vergne
Wednesday (2-05-2012)-  Jean-Eric Vergne/Daniel Ricciardo
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Daniel Ricciardo
Williams

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) -  Valtteri Bottas
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Pastor Maldonado
Thursday (3-05-2012)- Bruno Senna

Caterham

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) -  Rodolfo Gonzalez
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- Vitaly Petrov
Thursday (3-05-2012)- Heikki Kovalainen



HRT

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) – n/a
Wednesday (2-05-2012)- n/a
Thursday (3-05-2012)- n/a
Marussia

Tuesday ( 1-05-2012) - Charles Pic
Wednesday (2-05-2012)-  Charles Pic/Timo Glock
Thursday (3-05-2012)-  Timo Glock


Monday 12 March 2012

2012 Australian Grand Prix Preview


Many of us were waiting for the Formula One season to kick off and so this week for the first time in the history of Formula One, we will see 6 world champions on the grid with their massive 18’000hp.

Welcome to my blog of Formula One and I hope you all will have an amazing time this season. I bet if you will not ;)

As the first round of Formula One approaches to the Albert Park, many of the F1 teams and their respective crew members have started their way to Melbourne. The circuit itself is in the centre of the city around a lake. It is considered that the circuit is one of the first – rate circuit with the best facilities.

With the twelve days of pre –season testing, looks like all the teams are geared up for this season. HRT car failed to do more laps during the testing whereas only last week Marussia’s car successfully passed its mandatory crash tests.

I reckon Ferrari’s are still struggling to know their F2012. McLaren and Lotus car looked smoother. But yes we have to see this Saturday how these car do well in the competition level.

Red bull looks stronger but the question comes here is that: Will Red bull dominate this year too with the Newey’s design?


Sebastian Vettel: "Testing has been busy over the last few weeks and I think we have made a decent step with the car. You never really know where you are until we get to Melbourne and even then you don't really see what everyone has got until qualifying - so I'm looking forward to getting started.”

The track is clockwise with few blind corner, 90- degree corners, 58 laps, 16 turns and with two DRS activation Zone.

Pirelli, the official tyre supplier of the Formula One had announced last month that for the first race, all the teams will be supplied with the soft and the medium compound tyres.

Hence, to sum up, I would say that this GP has to be the action packed.