Jaypee owned Buddh Circuit rakes in big bucks as rich folks vroom their Ferraris, Maseratis
Every time the likes of Gautam Singhania and Vikram Oberoi decide to bring themselves up to speed, Sameer Gaur thanks his stars.
For around 200 days a year, Gaur's Buddh International Circuit - India's only Formula 1 track - is kept alive by adrenaline junkies like Singhania and Oberoi as they take a break from their corporate schedules and unwind under the Greater Noida sky vrooming their Ferraris, Maseratis and assorted superbikes. And for Gaur's Jaypee Sport's International that owns and operates the track, such private events - test drives, live shows et al - translate to almost half of the track's annual revenues.
The more dramatic ones such as those organised by Raymond Group Chairman Singhania and the Oberoi Group scion - who takes to the tracks once a month with his superbikes - could bring in 12-15 lakh (plus taxes) a day, says a person who asked not to be named.
In the past five months, Singhania has flown into the Buddh International Circuit three times from Mumbai with his gleaming red and white Ferrari 458, staff and friends in tow. Singhania spends 25 lakh to book the venue, where he does over 200 laps - over 1,000 km - in two days and throws a party before flying back.
Varun Jain, sales marketing director of Delhi-based distillers NV Group, says he accompanied Singhania on one of these trips. Jain, who owns three supercars and a couple of expensive bikes, has been to the tracks at least 10 times in the past one year with a bunch of like-minded speedsters.
Oberoi declined to speak to ET for this story, but Singhania says the real performance of the machines could be experienced only on a track that is meant for racing.
"It provides an environment that brings out the best in you," Singhania told ET.
He has set up the first 'Super Car Club' in India that has over 200 members.
Members of the 'Super Car Club' own fancy machines that cost Rs 1-3 crore from brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche and Maserati, besides a few models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
"The idea is to bring the community together," says Dilip Joshi, chairman of the club, which organises events both in India and abroad. Recently, 17 members of the club spent about 4.5 lakh per person to experience ice driving near Sweden.
"We also organise trips within the country to destinations such as the Buddh Circuit," he says. JK Tyres Director Vikrampati Singhania, Pune-based stud farm owner Yohan Poonawala, Bonito Chhabria, son of car designer Dilip Chhabria, NV Group's Jain and Rohan Seolekar, a young hotelier and real estate businessman, are some of the active members of the elite club.
"A bunch of friends often gets together and books the F1 track for one full day. It is an expensive passion, but works out well when the cost is shared," says Jain. He says many of his friends fly in from Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai to drive their cars here.
"People from the South India are more passionate about driving since they always had a track in Chennai," says Jain.
For around 200 days a year, Gaur's Buddh International Circuit - India's only Formula 1 track - is kept alive by adrenaline junkies like Singhania and Oberoi as they take a break from their corporate schedules and unwind under the Greater Noida sky vrooming their Ferraris, Maseratis and assorted superbikes. And for Gaur's Jaypee Sport's International that owns and operates the track, such private events - test drives, live shows et al - translate to almost half of the track's annual revenues.
The more dramatic ones such as those organised by Raymond Group Chairman Singhania and the Oberoi Group scion - who takes to the tracks once a month with his superbikes - could bring in 12-15 lakh (plus taxes) a day, says a person who asked not to be named.
In the past five months, Singhania has flown into the Buddh International Circuit three times from Mumbai with his gleaming red and white Ferrari 458, staff and friends in tow. Singhania spends 25 lakh to book the venue, where he does over 200 laps - over 1,000 km - in two days and throws a party before flying back.
Varun Jain, sales marketing director of Delhi-based distillers NV Group, says he accompanied Singhania on one of these trips. Jain, who owns three supercars and a couple of expensive bikes, has been to the tracks at least 10 times in the past one year with a bunch of like-minded speedsters.
Oberoi declined to speak to ET for this story, but Singhania says the real performance of the machines could be experienced only on a track that is meant for racing.
"It provides an environment that brings out the best in you," Singhania told ET.
He has set up the first 'Super Car Club' in India that has over 200 members.
Members of the 'Super Car Club' own fancy machines that cost Rs 1-3 crore from brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche and Maserati, besides a few models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
"The idea is to bring the community together," says Dilip Joshi, chairman of the club, which organises events both in India and abroad. Recently, 17 members of the club spent about 4.5 lakh per person to experience ice driving near Sweden.
"We also organise trips within the country to destinations such as the Buddh Circuit," he says. JK Tyres Director Vikrampati Singhania, Pune-based stud farm owner Yohan Poonawala, Bonito Chhabria, son of car designer Dilip Chhabria, NV Group's Jain and Rohan Seolekar, a young hotelier and real estate businessman, are some of the active members of the elite club.
"A bunch of friends often gets together and books the F1 track for one full day. It is an expensive passion, but works out well when the cost is shared," says Jain. He says many of his friends fly in from Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai to drive their cars here.
"People from the South India are more passionate about driving since they always had a track in Chennai," says Jain.
Pune-based hotelier Rohan Seolekar has also been to Noida a few times. "Most of my friends own supercars and bikes, and we often drive them around on Pune roads," says Seolekar.
And beaming at the whole spectacle is Chordia, chairman of Shreyans Group, dealer of Ferrari and Maserati in India.
He says there is growing demand for these expensive machines in India. "When we introduced Ferrari here in 2010, we announced that we will achieve a three-digit sales figure in the first three years of operation. We are on track to achieve that," he says.
Not only wealthy businessmen, even sportsmen and celebrities are often seen trying their hands on these expensive machines. From India team captain MS Dhoni to Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli to Yuvraj Singh, the top cricketers have been to the F1 race track several times. Dhoni's sports marketing company recently organised an event with his bike racing team and the Group of Delhi Superbikers (GODS).
The group has 70 'rich' members and each owns at least one or even multiple superbikes that cost lakhs. Some of them are CEOs of top firms or entrepreneurs.
"One hour of bike racing on the F1 track costs about Rs 10,000 per person," says Arun Thareja, founder of the group, who is an ENT surgeon by profession and owns three bikes, including two Kawasaki Ninjas and a Yamaha.
"Around 200 events were held at the tracks last year. Many of them were exclusive track days booked by wealthy car and bike owners. The number of such inquiries and bookings is growing," says Askar Zaidi, vice-president, corporate communication, Jaypee Group.
The Jaypee group has invested 1,800 crore in building the F1 race circuit, and events like these help in monetising the assets, besides helping appreciate the price of real estate developed around the track, he says.
And beaming at the whole spectacle is Chordia, chairman of Shreyans Group, dealer of Ferrari and Maserati in India.
He says there is growing demand for these expensive machines in India. "When we introduced Ferrari here in 2010, we announced that we will achieve a three-digit sales figure in the first three years of operation. We are on track to achieve that," he says.
Not only wealthy businessmen, even sportsmen and celebrities are often seen trying their hands on these expensive machines. From India team captain MS Dhoni to Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli to Yuvraj Singh, the top cricketers have been to the F1 race track several times. Dhoni's sports marketing company recently organised an event with his bike racing team and the Group of Delhi Superbikers (GODS).
The group has 70 'rich' members and each owns at least one or even multiple superbikes that cost lakhs. Some of them are CEOs of top firms or entrepreneurs.
"One hour of bike racing on the F1 track costs about Rs 10,000 per person," says Arun Thareja, founder of the group, who is an ENT surgeon by profession and owns three bikes, including two Kawasaki Ninjas and a Yamaha.
"Around 200 events were held at the tracks last year. Many of them were exclusive track days booked by wealthy car and bike owners. The number of such inquiries and bookings is growing," says Askar Zaidi, vice-president, corporate communication, Jaypee Group.
The Jaypee group has invested 1,800 crore in building the F1 race circuit, and events like these help in monetising the assets, besides helping appreciate the price of real estate developed around the track, he says.
Source : Vijaya Rathore, ET Bureau
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