Motorsport has always been considered as a niche in our country, but luckily, things are changing for the better, with race tracks springing up across the country. While circuits like the Buddh International Circuit, the Kari Motor Speedway and the MMRT have been established circuits on the Indian motorsport scene for quite some time, there are a number of new race tracks being set up in India.
Initially announced in 2018, the Marque One racetrack is a 5.5km track which spans across a 219-acre area, making it the longest track in the country. The race track will be built to FIA Grade 2 specifications and is aiming for Grade B licence from the FIM as well, making it a venue fit for motorcycle racing. Designed by Driven International, which made the layout changes to the Kari Motor Speedway in 2020, Marque One racetrack will feature the longest straight on an Indian circuit, at 1.1km, which is marginally longer than the BIC’s 1.06km back straight. The counter-clockwise format circuit will include 18 corners, and boast elevation changes of up to 40 metres. Future plans include building of a drag strip and an off-road track, along with a skid pad and wet surface testing track for use by automotive manufacturers.
Coimbatore will get a second racetrack after the Kari Motor Speedway, with the construction of the Coimbatore Auto Sports Transport Trust underway. COASTT will be 3.8km in length and features 14 corners, with the track getting a FIA Grade 2 accreditation and a Grade 1 CIK track in the infield. In terms of width, the track is 15 metres wide on the main straight and 12 metres wide on the other parts of the circuit. COASTT has partnered with Mumbai Falcons for the construction of the circuit and the circuit is expected to open its doors by March 2022.
Nanoli Speedway is set to come up on the outskirts of Mumbai-Pune and the race track has been designed by UK-based Driven International and former F1 racer Karun Chandhok. Featuring 12 corners, the Nanoli Speedway will be 2.9km in length, with the longest straight being 801 metres long. Nanoli Speedway can also be split into three configurations – a full length circuit, a 2.7km Speed Circuit and a third split type circuit where two racing events can run simultaneously. That track will also have a ‘4X4 and Off-road centre’ with a comprehensive range of terrains and man made obstacles, feature axle bumps, rock runs, twisting roads, gravel hills, ditches and different types of dirt trails.
The Valley Speedway is a new 2.4km race track coming up near Chitradurga, about 3 hours away from the city centre in Bengaluru. Headed by Hermann Tilke, the designer responsible for tracks like Yas Marina, Circuit of the Americas and even the BIC, the Valley Speedway aims to get FIA Grade 4 accreditation. The track is situated on a 53-acre parcel of land, with the track rising by 18 metres in elevation and immediately dropping by 10 metres in the next corner and this goes on through the 2.3km making for a fantastic challenge for drivers. There can be a total of 4 track configurations, with the track following the natural flow of the land. The Valley Speedway will have a width of 12 metres going up to 16-17 metres in some parts. There are also plans for a Grade B CIK karting track next to the main racetrack.
The Pista Motor Raceway is located in Telangana and the total length of the track will be 3.708km along with 16 corners. The track will also house a drag strip and an off-road section for 4x4 enthusiasts. Officials aim for the Pista to be an all-weather racetrack, in addition to receiving the FIA Grade 3 certificate. It has been announced that the tarmac layout of the track will be completed by January 2023.
In fact, at the time when this story was published, we just received word of a new race track in Mizoram, making it the first motor racing track in the North-East! With race tracks such as these being constructed in the country, the future is ripe for India’s motorsport talent, as well as us enthusiasts, providing us with a safe avenue to drive or ride our machines hard and fast in a controlled environment, making us safer drivers and riders when on the open road.