Keralites to make presence felt at Formula One

KOCHI: “It’s an electrifying feeling,” said K Oommen Philip, one of a six-member team of experienced motor-sports enthusiasts from Kerala deputed to ‘marshal’ the best of Formula One drivers set to burn the track at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida in the historic Indian Grand Prix on Sunday.Builders by profession, Jacob Elias, Lan Mathew and Mathew Joshua, fashion technologist Abhilash P G, Seematti managing director Gautham Reddy and AVT senior manager Oommen are among 800 marshals who will be on guard to ensure a successful conduct of the first-ever F1 race in the country.“The atmosphere will be like 22 fighter jets taking off together. We just can’t wait for the race to begin,” Oommen, who has already attended four Malaysian and two Singapore Grand Prix, told Express from New Delhi on the eve of the qualifying races.Oommen, Gautham and Abhilash are in the recovery department, Lan Mathew and Mathew Joshua in the logistics department, while Elias is in the communications department.“The recovery department’s job is to help clear the track in case of mishaps for the race to continue smoothly. The success of our work depends on how fast we react,” said Oommen, the senior-most ‘marshal’; all of whom have been around the nation’s racing circuit for over 10 years.  Oommen, Elias and Gautham are the chiefs of their respective zones in their particular department.“The communication department is a key area. The flow and pace of the race depend on the kind of signals we give,” Elias said.Logistics ‘marshals’ Lan and Mathew will be among the officials responsible for providing the rest of the team with whatever is required, be it equipment, food or water.In total, there are around 30 Keralites as marshals, mostly from Delhi and the Gulf region, said Oommen.They were selected after  a strict screening process that started more than a year ago.