Bouncing back from last Sunday’s Santander Italian Grand Prix, a beaming Lewis Hamilton made a whistlestop visit to Chennai [Madras] before jetting off to start his preparations for this weekend’s night race in Singapore.

It was Lewis’s third trip to India, having previously visited a karting event in Mumbai in 2008 and taken part in a promotional cricket match in Delhi last year.

For this trip, he visited the Madras Motor Circuit – the country’s first, and – until next year’s completion of the Formula 1 circuit outside New Delhi – only, permanent racetrack. It’s also the place where Indian racing stars like Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok first cut their teeth.

Lewis was on hand to deliver a series of hair-raising passenger hotlap rides to 20 lucky Vodafone customers. The winners were chosen randomly from thousands of entrants who had texted into a nationwide competition. An additional ride was made available to Pollywood superstar Chiyaan Vikram.

His visit was particularly well timed, too, coming just after the first-ever Indian Grand Prix received provisional confirmation on next year’s world championship timetable. The race is scheduled to take place on October 30, 2011.

“I think India definitely has Formula 1 fever,” said Lewis after completing his high-speed passenger rides. “This country is extremely passionate about motorsport – it’s clear that the success of their own national team has inspired and lifted the country’s ambitions, and next year’s Indian Grand Prix will showcase India’s enthusiasm for the sport to an international audience.”

“I’ve only been shown a plan-view of the new Delhi circuit so far, but it looks very interesting and will hopefully be very challenging for the drivers. Given the enthusiasm and support of the crowds here today, I think seeing hundreds of thousands of local fans in the grandstands for a grand prix will be incredible. I’ve even been asked what I think about appearing in a Bollywood film – I’m not the world’s greatest singer or dancer, so maybe I’ll pass on that one!”

McLaren