The Sports Authority of Thailand may be very close to striking a deal to host a Formula One race in Bangkok in 2014.
Several news sources including the Associated Press and Fox Sports have picked up on a report, allegedly in the Nation, that quoted Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, as saying that, “Formula One has decided to include Thailand in its 2014 season calendar.” He supposedly said the only thing left to negotiate was a hosting fee.
But funnily enough, we can find no such story on the Nation’s website.
Even more funnily, a similar thing happened last time an F1 in Bangkok news story was reported – several sources included Reuters picked up an alleged Bangkok Post story that Red Bull executives had met with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone… but no such story existed on the Bangkok Post website.
Very weird.
Regardless, the AP report (based on the Nation) revealed that Kanokphand said that the November 2015 would be 60% funded by the Thai government, with the rest coming from sponsors including Red Bull and Singha Beer. The SAT governor said talks were proceeding between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and representatives of Red Bull chief Chalerm Yoovidhya.
Areas reportedly under consideration for a circuit include the historic Rajdamnoen government district in central Bangkok, the city’s Klong Toei port area or the northern suburb of Muang Thong Thani. Kanokphand said there had been feasibility talks with F1 officials about the prospective areas.
“Once the negotiations are complete, we will bring this before the cabinet for discussion and approval,” Kanokphand was quoted as saying. “We will sign a deal only after we get the nod from the government.”
He said the hosting fee would not be more than that paid by Singapore in its just-completed contract, which he said was THB1.2 billion ($39.2 million) per year.
