F1 heading to India, claims Olympic Chief

India is set to host a Formula One race in 2010, according to the head of the Indian Olympic Association.

Suresh Kalmadi claims he has struck a deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone after talks in London last week.

“We’re happy to say that the first race has been finalised for 2010,” Kalmadi said.

“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.”

Two sites, both in the suburbs of New Delhi, have been earmarked as possible locations for a purpose-built F1 facility.

Kalmadi continued: “Formula One’s architects visited New Delhi and saw several sites in the National Capital Region.

“They did an aerial survey and selected two sites – in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Sohna in Haryana.”

Renowned Formula One circuit designer Hermann Tilke has been lined up to work on the project alongside the Indian authorities.

Should the race proceed in 2010 as Kalmadi claims, it would become the fifth new venue to be added to the F1 calendar in recent months.

South Korea is also set to stage a race in 2010, while Abu Dhabi will enter the fray in 2009 and Valencia and Singapore will hold races for the first time next season.