India Makes Bid to Host F1 Grand Prix

India have become the latest country to set sights on hosting a Formula One Grand Prix with a British-based consortium behind the bid.

The consortium, headed by Indian Sundar Moolchandani, has proposed a $150 million (USD) race track and three sites in Devanahalli, near Bangalore, have been shortlisted for the new track.

A three-man party from Germany, including German track designer Herman Tilke, chose three potential sites close to Bangalore, where a convention centre and five-star hotel will be built as well as the racetrack as part of the consortium's plans.

"Out of the four cities in India, Tilke was most impressed by Bangalore and its climate. He did not find it as hot as Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad for car racing. They are scheduled to get back to us soon," D.B. Inamdar, Karnataka's minister for tourism and IT, told the Hindustan Times.

"The racing teams themselves would require over 3,500 rooms. The rest of the audience would naturally be able to stay in hotels that would come up nearby. And the requirement would be approximately 10,000 rooms."

Promoters also have plans to set up a golf course near the racetrack.

"The idea is to provide a holiday package for all those who come to watch the Formula One race," said Inamdar.

The State of Karnataka, which has a population of 52.73 million, would be providing government land at 50 percent of its market value to the consortium. The state government is also offering several projects on a private-public partnership basis.

These include a luxury train, night safari in the Bannerghatta National Park, building a coastal tourism circuit in the north Kanara region and the development of areas around historical monuments.