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A day in the life…of the Irungattukottai race track

Zoom, vroom Where all the action happens

It was 8’o clock on a lazy Sunday morning, and two choices lay in front of me, sit back home and watch India take on Australia in a cricket series which just doesn’t seem to end or hit the road and take a long drive to Sriperumbudur to watch some high octane racing action. Why Sriperumbudur? Because the Irungattukottai Race Track here is where all the action happens, the home of Indian racing and a training ground for almost all of India’s accomplished racers. I’m also told that it’s a great spot to spend a warm Sunday afternoon.

I’m convinced. The one hour journey also gives me time to learn more about the history of the track. And it’s a story which dates back to the early 1970’s, when efforts towards acquiring a land at Sriperumbudur to set up a race track began. Back then, the popular racing destination was the strip at Sholavaram which attracted a diverse array of racers such as liquor Baron Vijay Mallya and Maharajkumar of Gondal who raced cars such as the Ferrari 365 GST and the Ford Mustang. A desire was felt however, to create a larger more challenging race track, and in the year 1990, thanks to the untiring efforts of the Madras Motor Sports Club, the Sriperumbudur race track was inaugurated.

I arrive at the track, and the first thing that catches my attention is the infectious sound of the engine as it roars around the track, one can almost follow the sound of the engine as it soars and falls in its journey around the track. The track itself is the longest such track in the country, 3.71 km long with 16 corners makes it one of the most challenging driving circuits. I make my way to the main straight at the race-track, it’s here that the cars are flagged off from and quite palpably, it’s here where all the action is. The pit-crews line up the pit-lane, cars line up the paddock waiting for their next race, engineers, mechanics, drivers and the fans all mingle in a friendly, warm environment where quite evidently there is a genuine enjoyment and interest in the sport.

Quite a change from the high security, clearly cordoned pit-crews one sees in Formula 1 on TV. Hang on a minute here, I think, aren’t these cars buzzing around the race track at almost 200 kmph and can’t all of this be a touch unsafe? I ask Rajan Syal, Chairman of the race committee, who heads the organisation team which ensures the smooth functioning of the race. He tells me, “The environment is extremely friendly, but most people don’t realise that there is a 40-man volunteer team in place working tirelessly to ensure that the race is enjoyable for everyone.” He takes us through the entire team, “They are 19 Marshall’s all connected on Ham Radio closely monitoring the race from vantage points across the track. In the event of an accident, they immediately radio the race control which is headed by the COC (Clerk of the Course) who then alerts the ambulance, the safety car, and takes a decision on the future of the race. All this happens in a matter of seconds, which is why there has to be a high level of trust with which the entire team operates.” Apart from this, there are also the time-keepers who keep an eye out for false starts, and update the positions of the cars during the race. Not to mention, the safety car driver who with a doctor by his side, follows the cars during the first lap of the race, so as to ensure that immediate medical attention is administered in the event of an accident. A team of stewards further review the operations of the entire race committee and ensure fair-play to all the competitors. The level of professionalism in operation is clearly immense.

I deem it safe enough to get back onto the pit-lane, for a sport generally considered male-dominated, I’m quite surprise to see a number of members of the fairer sex seemingly loving every bit of the action. I bump into Alisha Abdullah, a female competitor and she tells me, “Girls love the speed, the adrenaline rush, the excitement. With proper guidance and training, there is no reason, why girls can’t compete with the men in this sport.” In her next race, she over-takes four male drivers, going to show that she could well be right. Some of the male drivers also have strong contingents of female supporters, and this becomes quite evident as the races progress.

It’s nearing the end of the day now, and as the prize distribution unfolds with the champagne being uncorked, veteran race commentator Nilu announces the prizes. He’s had quite a tiring day himself, often straining his neck to update the audience of developments on the race track.

It’s been an exciting day at the race track, and strangely enough it’s been quite a relaxing day too. No better way to end the day, then to take my little car for a spin around the track. On my drive, I hear that I missed out on watching a rare Indian cricket victory. No doubt in my mind whatsoever though, I certainly made the right choice.

Started in 1990

3.71 km long making it the

longest race track in the country

Training ground for drivers like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun

Chandok and Armaan Ebrahim

Maintained and managed by the Madras Motor Sports Club

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