The Hindu : Sport : Formula One in India in 2010?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
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Formula One in India in 2010?

CHENNAI: India might hold a Formula One race in 2010, according to Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's Chief Executive Officer. Ecclestone further said he was "far down the line" in negotiations with a regional government, which he declined to identify, to build a racetrack in India.

Talks with cities including Hyderabad had petered out, while work on the new track should begin shortly and will take three years, he said. "India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China. We had to make sure we found the right place in India and we have," Ecclestone said in an interview to Bloomberg News Service.

Ecclestone has plans of making major inroads into Asia, while scrapping a few races in Europe. Germany and Italy will lose one of their two races next season — British Grand Prix may be cut to every other year — and the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy, will not be reinstated, he said. "It's bye-bye to San Marino," said Ecclestone. On October 2, the Formula One boss signed an agreement to stage a race in South Korea in 2010.

Vicky Chandhok, Chairman, Corporation Communiations, Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India and Ecclestone's informal adviser on Indian GP, speaking to The Hindu said that four parties — Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka — have shown keen interest in hosting the Formula one race.

"By December-end this year, the Formula One management will zero-in on any one State, depending on their funding criteria," said Chandhok.

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