New post added at OctaneAddict’s Monasteryi2Addicted Hindus visit Temples; Muslims go to the Mosque, while the Catholics attend mass in the Church. For OctaneAddicts, motoring and racing venues are holy and divine. So technically speaking, BIC is the monastery for Indian petrol-heads. There was my invitation to the Indian motoring Monastery- the BIC. How could I deny it? So, I was there at the India’s first and only F1 track, not just to visit but rather drive around it. The car to be driven wasn’t from BMW’s M division or Audi’s RS spectrum. It wasn’t even a Jaguar or a Mercedes-Benz. I was here to drive the automatic version of the new Ford Fiesta at #FiestaHotWheels. Now, the Fiesta is not a car designed just for the track and especially not the automatic avatar. So, driving an autobox passenger car on track didn’t quite excite me. I was certain that Ford would have thought of something before taking such a huge leap. And it did turn out to be a well-crafted experience that changed my perception. Read further as I re-live my experience. // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ google_ad_client = ca-pub-1192695572138930; /* Story banner ad */ google_ad_slot = 8385794609; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; // ]]> // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // ]]> The Buddh International Circuit— designed by the German Hermann Tilke— so far has hosted only a single Formula 1 Grand Prix. It is a fast track with many high speed corners and two long straights. I had never driven on this track and never expected to debut on it in a C+ segment sedan. I have been around the South Indian circuits in those quick-and-scary Rotax karts, which was back in my good old karting days. The Fiesta’s engine may not be a stonker of a performer but it is a decent turner of pace and a good handler. The Fiesta maxs out at about 170s on the long straight immediately after the blinding turn 3. The tyres do squeal when pushed to the limit, even though there is sufficient amount of road grip. The light steering wheel doesn’t inspire confidence and does take a while to get a hang of it. Go-karts and single-seater Formulas aren’t a very comfortable place to be in. The term ride doesn’t exist in those machines as they are built to be the fastest around the track, without any consideration to the ride suppleness. Just a reminder, that the go-kart doesn’t even have a suspension. So, one needs high-levels of motivation to drive them. The Fiesta was comfortable, softer and easier to drive with lower fatigue-levels. I was chuffed to bits as not only was the chassis well-balanced but even the ride was cushy. I could soldier on effortlessly doing n number of laps without any signs of tiredness. The Fiesta is definitely one of the best-handling cars in its segment. // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ google_ad_client = ca-pub-1192695572138930; /* Story banner ad */ google_ad_slot = 8385794609; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; // ]]> // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // ]]> The Fiesta is definitely slower than the highly-aerodynamic race cars for which #BIC has been designed. For optimum track performance, you need to slot it in the L mode. The shifts on the dual-clutch box are nippy, smooth and seamless. The autobox sticks in a lower-gear boosting driver’s confidence. The functioning of the box my views changed. Though we didnt have any official lap timing, but I can predict that my timings would have been better in the auto than the Fiesta manual. The PowerShift Transmission isnt just efficient, but even a quick-shifting box and this was the reason why we were invited to the Formula 1 track. The first memories of driving on an F1 track are always special, even if it is of driving a three-wheeler. Driving high-performance cars on a track is bliss, but the fact that slower cars around a track being boring, is just a faf. You need a car that is a good handler with a responsive engine, which the Fiesta is. Soon the day came to an end and it seemed that the sun was swiftly leaping towards the west, as if in a hurry to head home, bringing an end to the exciting day. At the end of day, I had two new friends @aneeshb and @shiladitya. And ofcourse old friends like @KaustubhS, @amitchhagani and Faisal were there too. And special thanks to @FordIndia for such a phenomenal experience.i2addicted/uncategorized/octaneaddicts-monastery/2015/01/11/
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 06:26:53 +0000
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