17/09/2007
NEWS STORY
Less than 24-hours after Indian racer Karun Chandhok scored his maiden GP2 Series win, the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Suresh Kalmadi, is claiming that the country will host its maiden Grand Prix in 201.
Kalmadi told a news conference in New Delhi that Formula One Management (FOM) had approved two sites on the outskirts of the city, and that the race promoters, the IOA, had been authorised to make the final choice of location.
"I met Mr Ecclestone in London last week and I'm happy to say he told me it is a good report and that they have selected two sites for the F1 track," said Kalmadi, according to Reuters. "He also handed over to me the two draft contracts, for race promotion of the Grand Prix of India in the F1 world championship and the circuit rights agreement.
"I'm happy to say the first race has been finalised for the year 2010," he revealed. "We'll be signing the contract for 2010. The month is not finalised but it could be March, the first race, or after the Bahrain Grand Prix.
"The contract will be for a minimum 10 years," he added. "We now have to work out how to utilise the track round the year."
The two proposed sites are in Sohna, south-west of New Delhi, and Greater Noida, which lies to the east of the capital.
Kalmadi rejected concern that the proposed F1 race might affect preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, due to be held in New Delhi. There is already concern at the slow progress of work for the Games.