Ecclestone hopes F1 appeals to China

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone hopes the recently-signed deal to take the sport to China will capture the imagination of the largest population on earth.

Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley have agreed a six-race deal for the Shang circuit in Shanghai beginning in 2004, after previous attempts to take Formula One to China ran aground.

The £150m (€238m) Shanghai project had looked in jeopardy when Bahrain agreed to host a grand prix in 2004 but Ecclestone and Mosley sealed the deal over the weekend.

Ecclestone said: “I sincerely hope that Formula One coming to China will breed enthusiasm for motor sports.

“We’ve had many, many offers for us to hold Formula One racing in different parts of China and I’m very pleased that we decided to wait for Shanghai.”