India is once again seeking an opportunity to return to the Formula 1 calendar by planning the construction of a state-of-the-art new circuit, moving away from the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi.
Entering the Formula 1 calendar in 2011, India concluded its venture at the pinnacle of motorsports just two years later. It was in 2013 when the Buddh International Circuit, near the capital New Delhi, set the stage for Sebastian Vettel’s iconic bow with his RB9 before exiting the scene.
Despite being in contention several times for a possible return to the F1 schedule, the country has not hosted the Circus since. Despite the absence from Formula 1, India has welcomed world-class motor racing championships over the years, from the ePrix of Hyderabad (canceled for 2024) to the MotoGP Grand Prix.
What’s missing in the Indian motorsport mosaic is Formula 1, but it remains in the minds of the authorities. Particularly keen on bringing the Circus back to India is the government of Gujarat, an Indian state bordering Pakistan on the Arabian Sea.
Gujarat is studying the feasibility and a general plan for building a new F1 circuit in GIFT City. The “Gujarat International Finance Tec-City” is a significant business district in the Gandhinagar district, the capital of the western Indian state.
Increasing and strengthening international economic relations: that’s the task of GIFT City, and F1 represents a golden opportunity. However, India’s willingness to return has yet to materialize into reality: the project is still under discussion, and there is no confirmation of the construction of the racetrack, nor is there a specific budget for such a venture. The timeline is also yet to be defined.
Will India succeed in bringing its Grand Prix back to the F1 calendar in the coming years?
Source: f1ingenerale
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