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Formula 1 in India

Formula One Management head Bernie Ecclestone has said India is a Formula One destination and that it would be ideal to have an Indian competing in the World championship. The President and CEO of F1 Management, in a statement, said that he was 'personally enthusiastic' about the prospects of having a round of the Formula One World Championships in India in the near future. India would "definitely" have a race, "it's just a case of where," Ecclestone said. He said it would "probably end up" in Bombay, although Calcutta and Hyderabad have been mentioned previously. An Indian will compete in Formula One for the first time this year after Narain Karthikeyan joined the Jordan team. India, backed by a booming economy, has been keen to stage a Formula One race and the IOA announced in June they had received a letter from Formula 1 administration allowing them to bring the race as early as 2009.India was asked to meet many tough conditions, including financial terms, before September 30 in an offer letter. Kalmadi said the deadline has now been extended."The contract will be for a minimum 10 years," he said."We have to work out how to utilise the track round the year."Kalmadi rejected concerns the Formula One efforts could affect preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The IOA is already under fire over the slow progress of work for the Games.The two sites chosen were in Sohna, near the industrial hub of Gurgaon to Delhi's south west, and Greater Noida, a fast developing area to the capital's east.Kalmadi said the IOA would discuss with the Delhi government before tying up with business groups for building the track.But once it is set up, India will suddenly be on the huge tourism map. India will be one of the 16 countries that have the privilege to have Formula One. Formula One has a viewership that exceeds most other sports in the world, next only to Football World Cup and the Olympics. The World Cup and the Olympics happen only once in four years, but this is on an annual basis. Ecclestone made a public statement that Karun is India's rising star and he was happy with Karun's progress in the British Formula 3 championships. He has shown more than simple interest in Karun. Bernie may be 74 and Karun 19, but they both get along well.