Vietnam has emerged as a strong contender to join the Formula 1 calendar with an announcement possible in the coming weeks.
Following a meeting of F1 race promoters in London on Tuesday, an article published by Forbes confirmed plans for a race in the south-east Asian country are underway.
Despite a plan to host a race in Vietnam under former Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone’s’ tenure, a contract was never signed. He later confirmed that he walked away from the deal.
“I was approached about having a race in Vietnam. I was offered the opportunity to meet the president about doing a deal for a Grand Prix,” Ecclestone said.
“I could have done the deal and signed it in August. Everything was arranged for this to happen.”
A revised plan is expected to see another street race, possibly in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi in the north of the country. It joins a number of cities planning to host an F1 race in the coming seasons including Copenhagen, Buenos Aires and a possible second city in America.
Along with new entrants to the calendar, F1’s new owners Liberty Media have a strong belief that heritage races in France, Britain and Germany should remain despite struggling financially.
