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Indian GP Debut on Cards for 2011, FIA Says
March 12, 2010

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India will be on next year’s Formula One calendar, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone told the sport’s governing body on Thursday.

India’s debut was cast into doubt last year when the country’s Sports Ministry rejected a request by promoter JPSK Sports to pay $36.5 million in foreign currency to Ecclestone’s British-based Formula One Administration.

The country is subject to strict exchange control regulations.

“Subject to final approval of the calendar by the world council … Ecclestone has informed the FIA that India will host a Formula One event in 2011,” the International Automobile Federation said in a statement at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

India has a Formula One team with Force India, owned by aviation and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, and a driver in Karun Chandhok, who makes his debut for the new HRT (Hispania) team on Sunday. The FIA said Chandhok, whose team has not tested its car, had been granted the mandatory super-licence on the basis of previous test mileage and participation in the GP2 series last year.

India could also host the annual FIA prize-giving and accompanying meetings at the end of next season, instead of traditional venue Monaco.

The governing body said FIA president Jean Todt had suggested the awards ceremony should be hosted by a different country each year and Mallya had asked the world council to consider India as a potential host in 2011.

“This offer was warmly welcomed by the world council,” the FIA statement said. “However, the FIA president confirmed the opportunity to host the event must be open to all the FIA’s membership throughout the world.”

The FIA also said a new selection process would be used to determine a “potential 13th entry and reserve entry” next year after USF1’s last-minute withdrawal from this year’s championship. The FIA said it would take “appropriate action” against the US team. Reuters & AP