Noida: Sebastian Vettel looked a happy man as he walked out of the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) track, on Thursday. The world champion was in his Red Bull dress and was followed by a host of television cameras and fans.

“I liked the track... Yes, it is fine and interesting,” said the German driver as he stopped to oblige a young fan, who was pestering for an autograph of the champion driver. “The track looks good… But we would know more about it only on Friday. We have to see how it behaves,” he said.

Vettel is not the only one who is keeping his fingers crossed. On Friday, when the free practice session starts at the 5.14-kilometre long BIC, the entire sporting fraternity would be waiting to know whether India has what it takes to host an elite sport like the Formula One.

Though there were several teething problems, including frequent power cuts in the afternoon, the circuit looked all set for staging the mega event with the teams setting up their garages and workmen busying themselves in marking the pit lanes.

Even the Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he was hugely impressed by the way things have shaped up. “The track is brilliant,” he said.

“They did everything we wanted them to do within, what, two or three years of reaching the agreement,” continued the Briton. “It took Silverstone 25 years, so I think they have done very well.”

Built as scheduled at a cost of $400 million, the track promises to change perceptions about the capabilities of Indian sport and take it to the next level.

While cricket star Sachin Tendulkar is set to wave the chequered flag, Bollywood’s leading stars would be jostling for a share of the limelight, too.

“This weekend is a very significant moment and I’m extremely proud,” said Sahara Force India Team Principal Vijay Mallya.

“It’s a major step forward for Indian motorsport and, for sport in general in our country. We are all looking forward to it great anticipation.”

Sahara Force India are sixth in the championship and hope to score more points in the 17th Grand Prix of the season. He said it would be the biggest race in Sahara Force India’s history.

“We are all determined to be as competitive as possible,” he said. “I want to savour every moment of what will surely be one of the most spectacular events of the season and the start of a great Formula One tradition in India.”

Red Bull has sealed both the drivers’ and the constructors’ championships but Vettel and Mark Webber are not expected to drop intensity. The fight for the second and third place in the drivers’ standings is still fierce with McLaren’s Jenson Button leading the race with 222 points, just 10 ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

Webber is not too far behind at 209 and would look to finish with a flourish.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who ended Red Bull’s run of 16 successive pole positions at the last race in South Korea, is also looking forward to the weekend.

“I think we will be competitive in the final three races,” said the 2008 champion.

“We were quick at Singapore, Japan and Korea, and I think the pattern at the front has sort of settled down now as we reach the end of the season. I think we have a car that can be quick anywhere, so I'd like to think we’d be in the hunt again this weekend,” commented the British driver.

From the Indian point of view, Narain Karthikeyan would be the only local driver on the starting grid but it would be a miracle if he manages to score a point with his struggling Hispania team.