Formula One expansion is encouraging: FIA

Sport’s governing body happy with GP’s success despite criticism.

YAS MARINA, ABU DHABI: While Formula One may have become ‘boring’ given the rule changes and the procession that Sebastian Vettel has enforced, its immense success as an event has given authorities a lot of encouragement, according to the FIA, motorsport’s governing body.

Despite the rising ticket prices, the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi attracted a massive following, mostly ex-pats and tourists but a fairly good number of locals. And with India making its Formula One debut two weeks ago, the introduction of new tracks and their financial implications has given the FIA a reason to smile.

“We fully understand the interest and the massive following that the sport has globally and it’s nice to see it venture out in regions where no one thought it’d be possible,” the Formula One’s Head of Communications Matteo Bonciani told The Express Tribune in Abu Dhabi. “It’s the third most followed event in the world after Olympics and the football World Cup. Those two events take place every four years. Our season, however, happens throughout the year and that makes it special.”

‘Interest needs to be put into practice’

The catapulted following in the subcontinent, including Pakistan, according to Bonciani, has kept the FIA on its toes and has forced them to realise that the interest needs to be put into practice.

“There are certain regulations we need to follow when preparing for the big push from new countries. We need to check facilities, interest, the track and liaise with the commercial right-holders,” said Bonciani.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th,  2011.