Formula One: Thailand seeks to host first F1 race

BANGKOK: Thailand is in talks to host its first ever Formula One race in 2014, according to the country’s tourism and sports minister. “It’s unlikely we’ll have any problem,” said Chumpol Silpa-archa, adding that negotiations with Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, were more than halfway through. But he said the country was still looking for a suitable venue as an existing track in the seaside resort of Pattaya, about an hour’s drive from the capital Bangkok, is ‘not perfect’. “We will discuss the possibilities and will know more in the next few weeks.” The move would mark a new milestone in F1’s drive into Asia, where Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Japan and India will all host races next year according to the FIA schedule announced on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2012.