On the back of Kingfisher Airlines’ massive sponsorship deal with Toyota, rumours have emerged that the investment may provide the impetus for an Indian Grand Prix, with potentially, the first race kicking off in Delhi in 2009.
At the launch of the Toyota TF107, Vijay Mallya of Kingfisher Airlines announced that he was ‘optimistic’ about the prospect of F1 coming to India. Vijay is rumoured to have a warm friendship with Bernie Ecclestone, and said at the event in Cologne, “the government of Delhi I think really wants formula one.”
Such a move would see F1 continue to push into Asia, the largest growing market for the car industry. South Korea is due to have a GP in 2010, and negotiations are continuing for a street race in Singapore. With so many countries, and circuits, attempting to attract the lucrative sport, this will only apply more pressure upon circuits like Imola, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Magny-Cours and Nurburgring, who have already been threatened with being left off the F1 racing calendar.
