NOVEMBER 12, 2014

India eyeing F1 return by 2017

India is unlikely to return to the F1 calendar until at least 2017, a senior official at former race promoter Jaypee has admitted.

India is unlikely to return to the F1 calendar until at least 2017, a senior official at former race promoter Jaypee has admitted.

The circuit near New Delhi hosted three consecutive races until 2013, but fell off the calendar this year amid financial issues and complex governmental hurdles relating to tax and red tape.

But Jaypee's senior vice president Askari Zedi said: "We are keen on bringing the grand prix back to the country.

"Talks are going on but there are certain tax issues which we have to deal with," he is quoted by the New Indian Express.

"So nothing is in our hand, we are doing everything that is possible."

Zedi acknowledged that India will not be on next year's busy calendar, and "nothing could be said about 2016, but we are trying our best to hold the race by 2017".

(GMM)