25/10/2011
NEWS STORY
Organisers of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix have slashed the price of tickets in the hope of selling out the event.
The Jaypee Group has admitted than in a bid to fill the 120,000 capacity circuit it is to reduce the cost of most tickets whilst also making one-day tickets available.
"We have sold close to 80,000 tickets which is pretty encouraging considering that it's the first F1 race ever in the country," a spokesman for Jaypee told AFP.
Indeed, other than the cheapest category, tickets for every section of the track were still available on Monday.
Referring to the decision to offer discounted race day tickets following a poor take-up on the three day passes, the spokesman said: "Fans can now opt for only race day tickets at discounted price instead of the season tickets which are a little on the high side."
Unlike Turkey, for example, the organisers in India cannot cite a lack of publicity if the race isn't a sell-out since the Indian media has really got behind the event.
With a burgeoning, aspirational middle class, many predict that this will soon become one of the most popular events on the calendar, however, the lack of home grown talent on the grid might be part of the problem. In the wake of China, Malaysia and Turkey, the last thing F1 needs is more empty grandstands.