India is known for a love of sports and an inability to organise them but that perception shifted this weekend with a successful Formula One grand prix, held  at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida, 38 kilometers (24 miles) from New Delhi.

Bollywood stars descended on the venue, incongruously set on a barren development site, while India's idolised cricketers were mobbed by undignified media scrums.

Helicopters helped the super-rich beat the traffic, Virgin's Richard Branson chatted with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone and dozens of mini-skirted pit girls turned heads as they trooped through the paddock.

Indian media trumpeted the event, with the Times of India devoting five pages of coverage and splashing “World raises toast to India” as its main headline on the front page.

“It is not only Sebastian Vettel, winner in Sunday's race, who is celebrating.” - Photos by Agencies

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