Good Motoring
A motor race to watch
H. Kishie Singh

It is here! In a few weeks, the most important, dazzling and expensive motor sport tamasha in the world will be in Delhi. It is the Formula One Grand Prix race, which will be held at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Noida.

The circuit has been built at a cost of Rs 2000 crore, is 5.141 km long and has 16 turns. The longest straight is 1.21 km long and this will allow speeds of 320 kmph. The FI cars will cover the circuit in 1 minute and 21 seconds. This makes it one of the five fastest circuits in the world.

The elevation of the track is 14 metres, which means a roller coaster ride. The elevation will allow for faster acceleration and add excitement for drivers and spectators.

The F 1 viewership is likely to cross 550 million Photo: AFP

The track is 14 metres wide, which allows plenty of overtaking opportunities. In some races, like in Monaco, overtaking is almost impossible. Whoever goes into the first corner first and comes out first will, in all probability, be the winner. The rest of the cars follow in a high-speed convoy. BIC will provide action.

Twelve teams compete. Each team has two drivers. A total of 24 drivers take the starters’ flags, actually lights, not flags. Not all finish.

The drivers communicate with the team leader in the pits with wireless. The stewards who oversee the running of the race have their own radio communications with the marshals scattered all around the track.

To facilitate coverage, TV cameras have been installed all around the track. The event will be beamed across the world. The viewership exceeds 550 million. Over 650 km of cables have been laid.

How do the stewards communicate with the drivers? With flags. The marshals have various flags at their disposal, and on orders from the stewards, they are waved to inform the drivers of the track condition.

The most sought after flag is the chequered flag. It is for the winner of the race and indicates end of the event.

The red flag indicates that the race has been stopped.

The yellow flag means danger. Drivers must reduce speed; no overtaking, and be prepared to change directions due to hazards on the track.

The green flag will be waved to neutralise the yellow flag orders. The race is in progress.

The black flag shown to the driver is bad news. He must pull into the pits on the next round.

The yellow flag with red vertical stripes warns drivers that track conditions have deteriorated due to rain, oil slick on the track or even debris due to an accident.

The white flag is to warn drivers of an emergency vehicle (ambulance) or service vehicle (tow truck) on the track.

The blue flag shown to a driver means he is about to be lapped by a faster driver. He must give way.

The black and white flag with diagonal halves shown to a driver with his car number is a warning that the person concerned has not shown sportsmanship.

The black flag with an orange disc is to summon a car to the pits due to a mechanical problem interfering with the race, such as leakage of oil, coolant or fuel.

These flags are an absolute law, and the law is enforced strictly. In the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher, seven times world champion, was shown the black flag. He ignored it, drove to a first place victory. Not so! He was disqualified and denied victory. He was also banned for the next two races.

Happy motoring.