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| Formula One legend Jackie Stewart clearly remembers the last time he was in India, more than two decades ago. That visit to the south of the country made the 'Flying Scotsman' an indelible part of India's |
| otorsport history. |
Jackie Stewart had laid the foundation stone for India's first dedicated race track,
the MMSC at Irrungatukottai near Chennai in 1987, triggering the start of a slow but
steady renaissance for motorsports in this country.
The 3.7-km track then became the hub of racing in the country, the place
where many drivers, including current F1 boys Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, took
baby steps into the sport.
This time, Stewart again finds himself in the midst of another milestone
for Indian motorsport. Here for the inaugural Indian GP at the brand new Buddh
International Circuit on Sunday, Stewart said he was glad he was again part of a momentous
occasion.
"It's been a few years since I visited India. Last time I visited was in
1987 when I came to Madras (Chennai) to dig soil and inaugurate the construction of the
first racing track in the country. Now I am here for the inaugural G in India. I'm happy I
was present on both occasions," said the three-time F1 champ.
As Stewart put it, in 1987 "realistically there was no racing at all in the
country". He added: "I came to lay the foundation stone for the first track here. And now
with this F1 race happening, it shows how much India has progressed in the last few years.
Two Indians have also featured in F1 and that is also a sign that things are heading
positively," says Stewart.
However, the 72-year-old believes having an F1 circuit does not mean the
country will start producing world-class drivers. "Look at the current Indian drivers
here. Narain is old now and after him and the other lad Karun there is not much of depth
in the talent pool. No one is knocking at the doors of F1. For a country to produce more
quality drivers it should have a huge talent base from which the best come out to fight
abroad," says Stewart.
"For that to happen, India should have more karting tracks, not big F1
circuits, so that more kids come into racing and then you will see an increase in the
number of quality drivers coming out of here," adds Stewart.
When the dust settles after the bling and buzz of the inaugural Indian GP,
the national motorsport federation should perhaps give a though to Stewart's observation.
After all he is the Flying Scotsman, the man who has seen and done it all in
motorsport.
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