Thailand will host a race in its capital city in 2015, according to Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone.
The country has been earmarked as a potential host for many years, but up until recently, plans to lure the sport there haven’t had the necessary backing.
However more recently the local government has got behind the project, with the Sports Authority of Thailand going as far as to say they will join the calendar in 2014.
Ecclestone though says 2015 is more likely and confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that it would be a night-time street race in Bangkok.
“They say 2014 and I say 2015,” said the 82-year-old. “It is serious and it is good.”
Funding would come from the government (60%) and Red Bull (40%). The energy drinks giant, which owns two F1 teams, is keen to host a race in the country in which the drink was founded and co-owned by the Yoovidhya family.
Motorsport is becoming increasingly popular in the asian country following a Red Bull demo in 2010 which attracted crowds of up to 150,000. The most recent Race of Champions was also held in the city of Bangkok last weekend.
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