| By: Sundari Iyer and Rohan Koli | Date: 2011-08-06 | Place: Mumbai |
>> The first race will be on December 18 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida (venue for the inaugural F1 GP), followed by races at Abu Dhabi (Jan 8), Doha (Jan 15), Dubai (Jan 22), Kuala Lumpur (Feb 5), Pattaya (Feb 12) and Chennai (Feb 25, 2012).
Radical SR3 race car to be used in the i1 Super Series
>> Each team will have two drivers, one international driver and one Indian driver.
>> Each weekend will have a qualifying session and two races making it a total of 14 races in the championship.
>> The Radical SR3 race car to be used weighs 570 kgs and can reach 0-100 kmph in 3 seconds with a top speed of 250 kmph.
>> The 10 cities shortlisted include Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Pune and Kochi. Of these, nine will have teams.
>> Anjana Reddy, Director of Machdar Motorsports: "The nine franchises will be sold at a base price of USD five million, and is available by invitation only and not auction. We will announce the owners and broadcast partners in a few weeks from now."
>> Vicky Chandhok, President of FMSCI: "From the motorsport perspective, it's fantastic for India. But they must have some big names in there."
>> Andrea Gamberini, who will be sourcing international drivers: "Nine are former Formula One drivers. We are in talks with current F1 drivers too but can't reveal names."
>> Cricket stars, Bollywood actors and industrialists are likely to own racing teams. Machdar Motorsports yesterday said batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar had confirmed joining the board of organisers as advisor and brand ambassador.
>> Elite Football League of India (ELFI), an eight-team league launched by brand consultant Sunday Zeller comprising Indian players and coaches and supported by professionals from America is set to open next year in India.
A helmet of one of ELFI's franchise teams pic/atul kamble
>> Eight city teams -- Mumbai Gladiators, Bhubaneswar Warhawks, Hyderabad Skykings, Goa Swarm, Pune Blacktigers, Kolkata Vipers, Delhi Defenders and Punjab Warrior will feature in the inaugural season from November 2012 to February 2013. Eight more teams to be added in the second year and four teams each year until 2022, making it a 52-team competition finally.
>> Investors include former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, among others.
>> Around 4000 players have been selected from orientation programmes held in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
>> EFLI has been working with the Govt of India and Sports Authority of India to bring the sport here. To promote the sport, youth programmes will be conducted at schools and colleges across India.
>> One of the participating athletes, Shashi Singh (21), who sacrificed boxing to get into the EFLI said, "I trained as a boxer at SAI, Kandivli. I joined an orientation programme and got into the sport. The best thing in it is that there is no foul even if you shoulder charge a player. "
>> ELFI chief executive Richard Whelan: "ELFI is the perfect place for brand visibility. We are training coaches from athletics, wrestling and other fields for ELFI." — MiD DAY
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