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Vijaya Kumar Santosh Kumar
Executive Sub-Editor
Can you beat this man's F1 passion?
September 26, 2009 Saturday, 06:26 PM
Santosh Kumar meets an F1 Force India fanatic.
ONLY the most passionate Formula One fan would do something like this: Buy an antique racing car, stick his favourite team's colours on it and display it around Singapore to whip up Grand Prix excitement. Pramodh Raja, an events executive with the Singapore Cricket Association and a national cricket team player, did just that from Tuesday to Saturday. He placed his prized possession -- a 1940s Ferrari replica model -- on a rented pick-up and drove to "areas where there are a lot of people" to garner support for Force India.
"People were curious, and wanted to find out more about the race and Force India," said the 29-year-old. "No one laughed at me. "I though I had to do something for Force India because it is a young team and I wanted to appreciate and acknowledge the effort put in by its owner Vijay Mallya. I have been a fan of his for many years." (Mallya is an Indian drinks and aviation billionaire, who also owns the Indian Premier League cricket team Bangalore Royal Challengers. He has a house in Singapore.) Cricket is Raja's primary passion. But he has become an F1 buff since the first night race was held here last year. A month ago, he spotted a dust-covered replica racing car -- one-sixth the size of an actual F1 car -- at an antique shop on Serangoon Road. He bought it for $1,000. He did not want to spoil the original colours. So he put Force India stickers on the car. Then, as the Formula One fever swept the Republic, he hired a Nissan pick-up for $40 a day and went about garnering support for the fledgling F1 team, who are lying ninth among the 10 teams.
"I like Mallya because he named the team after a nation," said Raja. "Other teams have the company's name." The slogans draped on the sides of the pick-up are: "Mallya we are with you", "Support Force India" and "Mallya all the way". "I have this feeling they will come in the top three," said Raja. Now, that's the kind of fan F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is looking for: Passionate about his team to the core. Tags: f1, force india, sports 
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It takes a fellow Indian to do anything for publicity. People like Raja are just that, publicity mongers. Mallya names a team after a nation? so what? Its still not an Indian team, only the part owner Mallya is an Indian in the team. The drivers, technicians, cars etc all European. So what's the big deal Raja? Good for Mallya maybe whose money comes from selling booze in India and he finds people to fund his excesses.
Will there ever be a formula one car that has a drill in front?
You know, for digging. Then they can go racing underground.
But we better make sure they dig below HDB areas. We wouldn't want them digging someone's son who went AWOL. something like that.
Appreciated Raja ! Proud of you .. Though we guys just talk behind saying why Forbes India joining the GP with experienced top drivers .. But we tend to forget that they were once a learner .. !! and so are we now ... ! We will support Forbes India .. Thanks Mr.Mallya !
And....Mr. Vijaya Kumar Santosh Kumar....thank you for writing about this one Passionate Indian....
This is passion...people....
I am touched by what he said:
"I like Mallya because he named the team after a nation," said Raja. "Other teams have the company's name."
I am proud to be an Indian because of you..Pramodh Raja