Motorsports need support in India

Motorsports has existed in India for more than six decades, but it is in the last few years that this sport has gained popularity and generated interest across the country. With growing participation in international rally and road racing events, India’s role in the global motorsport arena has never been bigger. Indian auto manufacturers are investing their resources into this sport and are already seeing returns with strong finishes in international events. Even our home-grown racers are making a name for themselves on the global stage, and today many young riders in the country are aspiring to be professional riders.

What started and perceived as a niche sport for the affluent in the early years, motorsport in India picked up as a serious sport after the establishment of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) in the 1970s. It not only brought about a perception shift towards this sport but also set the base for serious professional motorsports in the country with standardized rules and regulations. Post this development; this game attracted attention from auto industry players as they realized that the learnings from the track would help in improving the performance of the stock vehicles and will also provide impetus to the motorsports in India.

Towards this vision, TVS Motor Company established its racing arm – TVS Racing, which is the fact, the oldest and the first factory rally team in India. TVS Racing not only became a valuable asset to the company as it was providing valuable design and technological inputs to the R&D arm of the company but also became pivotal in the evolvement of motorsports in India. It became a platform for the young riders who wanted to pursue their career as racers.Though promoters in two-wheeler racing have been trying to help the category pickup by investing in the game and providing a breeding base for the riders, there is a need to scale up the ecosystem to be able to match up to the counterparts in other parts of the world. With the government recognition of the sport helping in many ways; it has also helped FMSCI building up a solid base for all categories of motorsports in India along with the support of industry players.

Since the last 34 years, TVS Racing has consistently been committed to motor racing and working with FMSCI towards this cause. To provide a platform for young aspiring racers to showcase their skills and take up motorsports professionally TVS Racing introduced One Make Championships in India which over the years has emerged to be a successful initiative, and has been replicated by many others in the industry to identify and handpick local talent. The team provides a holistic experience for the racers – not only does the company provides the infrastructure but also ensures that the team racers get exposure in India and abroad through regular training modules and participation in the international events with their counterparts.