Countdown to the Indian Grand Prix

So, for all the people who don't really watch each and every race in the F1 calendar, I am going to try and explain the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) and tell you why I think it is a great track.

Here are some stats:

The circuit is 5.14 Kms
16 corners (4 low speed)
60 clockwise laps
2 DRS zones - 2 is better than 1 ;)
Upto 14% in elevation changes
Track width is almost 20 metres = Lots of room to overtake

Please keep referring to the image above as I explain this track turn by turn. Also, I have a few more pictures of the track taken today by @MarussiaVirgin, which will help in better explanation.

The race will start on the start-finish straight next to the pit lane. Not much different here compared to other circuits.

The cars will then brake hard for Turn 1. T2 is a sweeping left hander which feels like a part of T1. T2 leads up to my most favorite corner of this track!

This is a blind apex corner. Basically, during cornering, it is very important for the driver to make sure his car hits the 'apex' of the corner. (The 'apex' is most often the geometric centre of the turn). Hitting the apex ensures the car takes the straightest line possible, thereby giving maximum speed when they exit the corner. There are two key issues with T3. As you can see from the picture above, the driver cannot see the apex when he is turning in (in fact he can only see the sky!) - hence he is turning in blind.

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This becomes more crucial, because the next part is one of the fastest part on the F1 calendar. A downhill straight where cars are expected to touch 320 km/hr! Add to this, it is a DRS zone! Mess up the exit from this corner and you mess up the entire straight and hence your lap time. Critical corner this!

Real hard braking after the looong straight and the end of the DRS zone. Expect to see a lot of overtaking in this part. Place an ad in this part of the circuit to get maximum views :)

Leading into T5, you can see how low the circuit has become. It is actually below the level of the pit lanes and the grandstand. Rollercoaster!

T6 and T7 are a quick left and right hand turns leading into T8 and T9 and then another challenging turn.

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Turns 10, 11 and 12 are 3 turns rolled into one huge 180 degree banked curve. The challenging part of this curve is, there is three apexes in this mega-curve and hitting each one is important to make sure you carrying enough speed upto the uphill T15. The spectators sitting in this granstand will have an awesome view of the cars trying to negotiate this curve.

Turn 15 (another blind corner) then gives way to the downhill run towards the last corner and back onto the start-finish straight which is also a DRS zone.

There is going to be a lot of excitement due to the fact that it is a level playing field for each and every driver. Friday will be the first time all of them will be making an attempt to find the perfect racing line.

Designed by Hernan Tilke, this track has been criticized to be another cookie cutter track. However, people appreciate the elevation changes in this track which gives it the opportunity to become really unique along with the fact that it can be the second fastest track on the calendar after Monza.

Let us look forward to a great race this weekend!

PS. I don't claim to be an expert. Don't take the title too sersiously :P

Buddh International Circuit for dummies

Mark Webber's Lap of the Indian Grand Prix

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