Vietnam will host a Formula One race in April 2020 and becoming the third Southeast Asian nation to welcome top-flight racing as the franchise seeks to move into new markets.
The race will be hosted in the capital Hanoi, with the circuit set to be unveiled at a gala next week, the Hanoi People’s Committee said Thursday in an invite to the event
“The city of Hanoi managed to conclude the cooperation to be entitled as the official host of a race of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship (from) April 2020,” the letter read as cited from sport24.co.za.
Local government officials had said earlier in the year they would be keen for a race on the condition that it would not significantly dip into government funds to host the race.
Mai Tien Dung, head of the government office, said in August that he hoped costs could instead be covered by potentially “huge” advertising revenues.
Officials had originally considered hosting the race around Hanoi’s scenic Hoan Kiem lake near the bustling Old Quarter but decided instead on a route near the national stadium, where the roads are wider.
Although Vietnam has little history in motorsports, it would be joining Singapore as the only other Southeast Asian race on the F1 calendar if the race does indeed become official.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting gave backing to the event, saying that it would not be a problem organising the race.
sources: sport24.co.za, gpblog.com