Renault aspiring to bring motor racing in India, road show on Nov 9

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) As India prepares its first motor racing track, Renault is all set to expand its reach to the cricket crazy country and the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has invited the auto giant to begin its campaign with a road show here in the captial on November 9.

''Through our marketing research, we have found that India is ready to accept motor sports and the people here are very much interested in the sport,'' Renault managing director in India Sylvain Bilaine said here today.

The Renault F1 team comes up with one of the most uniquely designed road shows which is a multi-city world tour, conducted in 5-6 select cities across the world every year.

''Renault has been committed to automotive sports for a long time through Renault sport. We have been in the F1 circuit for many years aand have really cemented our position amongst the top teams.

''I understand that cricket is a popular sport here in India but if we go through the the media coverage, motor sports does find its space in it,'' Bilaine added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Committee (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi said the F1 track in India would be ready by 2011.

''The Indian youth has been doing really well off late. We saw it at the Beijing Games Olympics and the recently concluded Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) where we bagged 76 medals,'' Kalmadi, who was also present during the announcement, said.

He said besides the Olympic sports which are really gaining popularity in the country, motor racing is something that India is really keen to see getting underway in the country.

''Formula 1 racing has a huge fan following across the country, though limited to television till now. We are extremely delighted that Renault F1 team road show will enable lakhs of fans to see these fantastic cars put up a show in front of their eyes.

''It will no doubt signal India's preparednesss to take on the challenges of providing better infrastructure and facilities to our youth, especially with the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi and also the planned offcial F1 circuit in India,'' Kalmadi added.

He further exuded confidence that in association with the GP group, India will see its first motor racing track in Greater Noida by 2011.

Renault F1 team driver Fernando Alonso will not be here for the road show but the Indian crowd will have the opportunity to see PK junior in the event. While the actual show starts on November 9, the cars will be on display for the public from November 7.

UNI RAR AB KN1450