Indian F1 Grand Prix off the grid for 2014?

The Indian edition of the Formula1 Grand Prix could be a no-show in 2014.  Recent comments from various sources indicate multifarious reasons for the F1 race not to be held in India. Tax issues, political problems, and manufacturer dissent at the number of races are said to be few of the reasons as to why the Indian GP might not happen from 2014. 

According to a Reuters report, Russia could take India's place in the F1 circuit for 2014. F1 supremo Mr. Bernie Ecclestone, speaking at the sidelines of the Hungarian Grand Prix that concluded yesterday, has stated that, 

Is India going to happen next year? Probably not.

Mr Ecclestone also noted that the reason for the Indian GP to off the 2014 season was "very political". 

While the tax issue is said to be one concern of the Formula1 Grand Prix in India, the other issue is related to the number of races that can be accommodated in a single F1 season. Currently, the Formula1 season hosts 19 races including the Indian GP. Russia, New Jersey and Austria are three other F1 tracks that could make it into the 2014 season.

However, the racing teams have refused to have a 22 race season, with them pitching strongly for a 20 race season. In case of the 20 race season being finalized for 2014, South Korea and India could be replaced by Russia and New Jersey, even as Austria is in contention for hosting a Formula1 race next year. 

Held at the Buddh International Circuit over the past couple of years, the Formula1 Grand Prix in India has been a moderate affair. In a country that worships cricket, F1 is a niche sport that is followed by a select few when compared to sports such as cricket, or for that matter even football, tennis and hockey. 

Last year, Jaypee Sports, the owners of the Buddh International Circuit revised break even estimates to 5 years from 3 years, due to ticket sales not meeting expectations. Jaypee Sports built the circuit on 2,500 acres of land, off New Delhi, at an expenditure of over 2,000 Crore rupees/400-450 Million USD.

The Greater Noida location of the circuit also hosts other sporting facilities such as a cricket stadium and a tennis academy. The idea behind multiple sporting facilities at a single location is to achieve break even quickly and sustain the F1 circuit as many Formula1 circuits across the world have gone belly up due to their inability to recoup investment costs. 

In a bid to recover construction costs, Jaypee Sports, the organizers of the Indian F1 Grand Prix have been conducting track days, car launch events and other motor sport/automobile related activities on the Buddh International Circuit. However, these measures pale in comparison to the revenue that needs to be generated to break even. 

In addition to this year's Formula1 race that will be held in India during October, the Buddh International Circuit will host the World Superbike Championship in November. While there has been talk of MotoGP (F1's motorcycle racing equivalent) coming to BIC, a final decision by the organizers of the MotoGP championship hasn't been made yet.