Nirvana

Hi, my name is Anoop and I am from India. I don’t know then and how I became a Ferrari fan, but I followed the beloved team from my school days and by each passing year I got more attracted. So I also had a wild fantasy of attending a Formula 1 event, but I am from a middle class family that too from India so odds were against me. Then in Dec 2008 I got a job in Bahrain, that opportunity changed my life.

My first ever Formula 1 experience was pre season testing of 2009, although the first two days of test was spoiled by sandstorm, the test scheduled for Friday was on the way and soon I and my friend Rostsky arrived at Bahrain International Circuit. As we reached the circuit I heard the sound of a F1 car passed by, but deep in my heart I wanted to see a Ferrari first I came there for Ferrari and I don’t want to see any other car before seeing the Ferrari. Indeed the first F1 car that I saw was Ferrari driven by Kimi Raikkonen. The car was speeding through the main straight and I was standing near the fence located just before turn one, the speed was awesome, my eyes weren’t able to adjust, I have never seen anything coming in such a high speed towards me. The feeling was unique, and I enjoyed the whole day. I tried for a ticket for the race but was not able to get it in 2009. I still believe that it happened for good because I never wanted to attend a race in which Ferrari is second and I never wanted that to happen in my first race attendance.

In March 2010 “Prakash Ettan” – my relative gave me a grand stand ticket to attend race. On Wednesday Prakash Ettan told me that he will give me a Paddock Club pass for the race so that was a real unbelievable surprise for me. So there begins my three days in heaven. I was there at Bahrain International Circuit for all the three days, for the first 2 days I was in grandstand enjoying every movement, the free practices, support races, display of old cars and also the qualification. I was little bit sad as we were not able to lock the front row, but I was optimistic. The next day Sunday was the best day in my entire life, he gave me the Paddock Club pass and I was able to go for a pit walk, pose for a photo with Roberto and Fabio (Ferrari IT staffs at the telemetry), see Jean Todt, all other VIPs and most important the unique experience of attending a F1 race and then the race started, deep in my mind I wanted a Ferrari victory and as race progressed I heard the strange noise from Red Bull and at that point I knew that how lucky I was yes… I was able to witness a Ferrari victory from Fernando. The feeling and happiness was beyond my dreams, expatiations and beyond words I was in seventh heaven. That day I attained “Nirvana”….. I sat outside the circuit for one hour the mind was calm, all the past was away from me, my mind was full of each and every seconds that I spend there, all the frames passed through the mind, the sunset was beautiful I felt I was on the top of Mt. Everest, I felt relaxed even though the world around me was noise and fast I felt like time had stopped….

I knew that was the Day of My Life and the opportunity that I got was one out of a Billion, yes I believe that the chance I got to see Ferrari F1 car in a race from Paddock Club and to see a Ferrari victory that too from a maiden race of Fernando for Ferrari in a season opener is really a unique, attending a race in such a esteemed way is possible, but for a middle class Indian Ferrari fan, it was a day in heaven, Thank you Ferrari drivers, technicians, and fans around the world, and also to Prakash Ettan for providing me the opportunity to see the wonders……