Formula One to focus on India, track foundation in October

M R Mishra

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) Brushing aside the Indian
government's stand that Formula One is not a sport, F1 supremo
Bernie Ecclestone Wednesday said the foundation stone of the
race track in India would be laid in October for the showpiece
event next year.

Ecclestone said it's been long time that they have
signed the contract with the promoters in India and there was
no question of the event being shelved despite the Indian
government's refusal to give concessions.

Asked specifically whether the F1 race in India would
go on, Ecclestone told PTI from London," It's been on for a
long time. There's never been any doubt. The contract has been
signed long time back."

Ecclestone, the President and CEO of Formula One
Management, said that the foundation stone for the project in
Greater Noida would be laid at the end of October.

"We are waiting for the circuit to be constructed. The
foundation stone would be laid in late October. I will be in
India to lay the foundation stone," he said.

Ecclestone made light of India's sports minister M S
Gill's view that Formula One was not a sport.


"Let's see, when I come there in October. I would meet
with people and see what is the best way to move forward,"
Ecclestone said.

Ecclestone, a former Formula One driver himself, was
impressed with Force India's second-place finish at the
Belgian Grand Prix last week.

"Force India should have won actually. They were
unlucky. It's good to see Vijay's (Mallya) team doing well. He
has done a good job for Force India," he said.

Asked if there were plans to have more night races,
the first of which made its debut in Singapore last year,
Ecclestone said a few more venues were being considered.

"We are looking at five other countries for night
races," he said, without divulging the names of the countries.

On whether the sports was feeling the effects of
global economic downturn, Ecclestone said things were looking
up now after a few months of sponsorship problems.

"I don't know about India but most of the world is in
recession. Sponsorship was obviously a problem as a lot of big
names were reconsidering but it is better now and sponsors are
coming back," he said. PTI MRM