Sochi is both Russia’s summer and winter capital. Come September end, the picturesque Black Sea resort town with subtropical weather revs up again for the Russian Grand Prix at its august Sochi Autodrom, where turbo-charged single-seaters burn some rubber against a postcard backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
But vroom past the ballyhoo of practice day, heats and the piece-de-resistance race, one opens windows to a world of close encounters of a different kind. How about putting your hardihood to test with some bungee jumping at SochiSwing — mind you, the world’s highest swing at 170 metres — at the Skypark AJ Hackett perched at the breathtaking Ahshtyrskaya valley, or white water rafting along Mzymta river snaking through scenic Krasnaya Polyana? It seems there’s no dearth of derring-do.
It’s not just the races that propel the Formula 1 universe forward but the places too. With eager tourists arriving in droves to catch blink-and-you-miss glimpses of their favourite speedsters and their glamorous four-wheeled beauties, tourism emerges as a beating heart of the industry. With over 20 races peppered across the globe in a sporting season, the Grands Prix are tantalising holiday prospects for auto racing enthusiasts.
“Tourists arriving for the Sochi race won’t have to rack their brains over how to spend their time in the resort city, as the organisers prepare a packed four-day entertainment programme in the Olympic Park with sports sites and recreational options. A festival of speed and thrill as well as concerts of popular stars are a bonus,” says Tatyana Rivnaya, spokesperson for Ano Rosgonki, promoter of the Russian Grand Prix.
Best of all worlds
With the F1 circuit making its next pit-stop at Azerbaijan tomorrow, its capital Baku is abuzz. “Why stop at just the Grand Prix? Baku may be known for its exhilarating car races, but it also offers a kaleidoscope of cultural and historical activities. Don’t be surprised to find yourself mesmerised by its rugged natural beauty and effervescent night-life,” says Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board.
At Baku, art lovers can hop on to a bus bound for the Heydar Aliyev Center that has four floors dedicated to modern and classical art and culture.
- Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, June 9
- French Grand Prix, Le Castellet, near Marseille, June 23
- Hungarian Grand Prix, Mogyoród, August 4
- Italian Grand Prix, Monza, September 8
- United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, November 3
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Island, December 1
There’s enough and more for history buffs too. Right on top would be the primitive petroglyphs of Gobustan, a UNESCO Cultural Landscape, and a maze of mud volcanoes. Gobustan’s monuments are believed to cover a period of approximately 20,000 years, starting from the end of upper Palaeolithic age till the beginning of the modern era.
The Monaco Grand Prix turns the Circuit de Monaco at Monte Carlo into a cauldron of thrills and spills. With hair-raising contests, it’s also deemed one of the ‘riskier’ circuits for its hairpin-curved layout. But those on the lookout for a jamboree, brace up for the legendary post-race carnivals this May.
“Off the track, tourists can soak in the finest décor while you play your luck at the iconic Casino de Monte Carlo. Monaco has glitz and glam in spades. In case you prefer to be amidst greenery, Rose Garden in Fontvieille Park, Japanese Garden and Jardin Exotique de Monaco are not to be missed. By the way, the Oceanographic Museum is home to 4,000 species of fish,” points out Ruma Gupta, a spokesperson for the Monaco Government Tourism Bureau. If class is your line, head off to the shimmery Port Hercules ever dotted with magnificent super yachts.
Showboaters wishing to arrive in style from the skies, take notice: Monacair operates helicopter services between Nice airport in adjoining France and the city-State. “A bird’s eye view of the sapphire coast is a sight to behold. The landing in Monaco is no less spectacular as the Monaco heliport is right at the edge of the waters,” adds Ruma. However, if do-it-yourself is your style, rent a convertible sports car at the Nice Airport and cruise down quaint roads to Monaco in true French Riviera fashion.
British royalty
Built on the site of a Second World War Royal Air Force bomber station is the Silverstone Circuit at Northamptonshire that hosts the British Grand Prix. Before the curtains go up in this year’s edition in July comes another off-track attraction — the Silverstone Experience — a one-of-its-kind museum tracing the history of British motor sporting. Not far away from Silverstone is the Blenheim Palace. Just a 15-minute drive away is Bicester Village, a perennially bustling shopping centre, for some ‘retail therapy’.
Irrespective of the venue, entertainment remains part of the package, and race host Singapore never fails to live up to the occasion. Perhaps the only all-night race of this calender year, as dazzling artificial lights breathe life into the Marina Bay Street Circuit, massive sound systems rock the stage elsewhere. The funky line-up this September includes hotshots like Muse, Swedish House Mafia, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fatboy Slim and Hans Zimmer, all in the same city sphere.
