FIA Grade 3 Race Track To Be Built In Andhra Pradesh

The Indian motorsport scene certainly has some exciting times ahead with new race tracks in the offing. The latest one being in Andhra Pradesh. A new track is all set to be set up at Kotapalli village, in the Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh. Foundation for the new race track was laid recently and the venue will be built over a period of two years. The new race track is being built by Bengaluru-based Nidhi Marque One Motors, and will be headed by Anush Chakravarthi, who is also the brains behind the project. Anush holds a keen interest in cars and motorsport, and has been a professional race car driver himself. He was one of the five finalists to race in the UK, as part of the second Nissan GT Academy in India.

Foundation for the new race track was laid recently and it will be built in next 2 years

The new racing circuit is located about 130 km from the Bengaluru airport, which will make it extremely accessible.The track won't be a FIA Grade 1 Formula 1 track like the Buddh International Circuit, but will be certified for FIA Grade 3, which restricts cars up to the speed of 250 kmph. The new circuit will be able to accommodate Formula 3 cars. The track 3.4 km race track will come with several elevation changes up to 40 metres and will be a mix of fast straights and high speed corners. The track will be part of a 219-acre property that will be converted into a resort. Apart from the race track, the promoters also plan to house a three-star hotel, a secure car storage facility, a five-hole golf course, a sports complex and an auto themed amusement park in the future. The first phase of the project which includes the race track has been estimated to cost Rs. 100 crore. The complete project is expected to be completed over a period of seven years from the time the land has been allotted to the company.

The race track is expected to receive the FIA's approval by November this year

Apart from the race track, the promoters also plan to incorporate a drag strip and an off-road track with a rock-crawl area. There will also be a skid pad and wet surface track that will be part of a test facility for automakers. The location of the track also makes it accessible to a host of manufacturers in the South. The track is expected to employ around 360 people directly and indirectly, creating employment opportunities for the locals in the region, which largely depends on farming.

Promoters Nidhi Marque One Motors has tied up with UK's Driven International for the design of the track, and is expected to receive the FIA's approval by November this year. The Andhra Pradesh government has provided the land apart from the other benefits for the project. Interestingly, current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was keen to build a Formula 1 track in the state back in the early 2000s but the plan was scrapped after the then government lost power in 2004. The project at the time was spread over 1000 acres and was to be built with an investment of Rs. 1000 crore. Naidu and team had also met former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone for the project.