Formula One news

Karthikeyan: India not ready for F1 yet

Williams F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan believes his home country India will not be able to host the first Indian Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 already. The 30-year-old driver believes India isn't ready yet to get a track finished by 2009.

Speaking about the possibility of hosting a Formula 1 race in 2009 Karthikyan told the Hundustan Times: ""It's unlikely. I doubt it See, the racing championships that are being held in India now are very cost effective. But F1 is very expensive. I don't think they will be able to build a track by 2009. Maybe five years down the line we can expect F1 in India. That's because India has a market for F1. There is Lenovo, who sponsor Williams, and they have a huge market here. They would like to have a F1 race in India."

And speaking about his own racing plans for the future Karthikeyan said: "I have got a contract with Williams for next year and am hoping to get behind the wheels as a driver. If it doesn't materialise, I have got a commitment with the A1 Grand Prix and would race in it."

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