Why Hyderabad E-Prix is only a first step in India's motorsport emergence

OPINION: Motor racing still has some way to go to usurp cricket as India's favourite sporting discipline. The long-awaited return of international motorsport to the country this weekend with the Hyderabad E-Prix is an important step in the right direction, but it will take more than Formula E's arrival to cause a true shift

Rachit Thukral Feb 8, 2023, 1:02 PM

This Saturday’s Hyderabad E-Prix will be a landmark moment for motorsport in India. It will mark the return of world championship-level motorsport to the subcontinent, nearly a decade after Formula 1 last visited the Buddh International Circuit in October 2013. The extended absence of top-tier racing championships in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies might seem shocking to some from the outside, but in truth motorsport has never been able to establish a foothold in India.

Cricket has been the dominant sport in the country for as long as anyone can remember, with the addition of the T20 format in the mid-2000s taking it to even greater heights. At a recent auction, the TV and online streaming rights for the Indian Premier League were sold for a staggering five billion pounds, putting IPL in the same breath as the English Premier League and NFL in terms of broadcasting revenue.

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Author Rachit Thukral

Rachit Thukral has been working for Motorsport Network from its early days in 2016. Initially recruited for the Indian edition, he was promoted to Motorsport.com’s Global team in mid-2019.

Over the years, he has held a wide variety of roles, ranging from covering Super Formula and SUPER GT in Japan to junior formulae in Europe.

More recently, he has directed his focus to sportscar racing, particularly WEC, DTM and IMSA. He also has experience in reporting on Formula E, Dakar and MotoGP.

Rachit also plays an active role in the day-to-day running of Motorsport.com in his post as News Editor.

Prior to joining Motorsport Network, he worked at the autoX magazine from 2014-15. He started his career in motorsport journalism by launching the website RachF1.com during his teen years.