Formula One race 2010 to take place in India

Formula One race 2010 will take place in India, the head of the Indian Olympic Association said Monday.

Photo: Formula One race 2010 to take place in India

"Formula One's architects visited New Delhi and saw several sites in the National Capital Region. They did an aerial survey and selected two sites - in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Sohna in Haryana," IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi told reporters.

Both areas are suburbs of New Delhi and it's been left to India to choose between the two shortlisted venues, he said.

Kalmadi said he met with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in London last week to discuss the matter in detail.

"We're happy to say that the first race has been finalized for 2010," Kalmadi said.

Formula One handed India two contracts - one a race promotion contract and the second a circuit rights agreement, Kalmadi said.

Earlier this year Kalmadi said F1 may come to the country by 2009.

The New Delhi area does not currently have a motor racing track, but Kalmadi said the IOA, together with the government, would build one. In the past he ruled out a street race.

While F1 is not an Olympic event, the IOA is involved as part of its attempt to bring as many major sporting events as possible to New Delhi ahead of the city's staging of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.