India will start construction of a Formula One circuit near New Delhi in October and is on track to host its first Grand Prix in 2010, Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday.
“I happened to be having lunch with the CEO of one of India’s biggest banks and he confirmed that they had sanctioned a facility to the developer of the Indian track,” he added.
“He has actually bought the land and on October 1 construction of a brand new track will begin.
“So for the first time now I think I feel very confident to be able to say to you that there will be a brand new track and that we will have our first Grand Prix in 2010. It’s just outside New Delhi,” said Mallya.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi announced last September that Formula One Management had approved two sites on the outskirts of New Delhi with the IOA to make the final choice.
Mallya, who bought the Spyker team last year and renamed it, has said he wants Force India to be in a position to claim their first podium finish by 2010 when they can expect to be racing in front of a home crowd.
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