NOVEMBER 9, 1998

A site for the Indian Grand Prix

AS we suggested in July there are plans for an Indian Grand Prix to be held near Calcutta with a 500-acre site at Bantola having been chosen by the West Bengal state government which has established a 22-member steering committee, headed by the state's home minister. This will examine a proposal for a race which includes a request for free land, 5000 hotel rooms and the construction of a six-lane highway from the city's Dum Dum International airport out to the race track.

While the promoters hope that West Bengal will invest in the project there are also plans for subsidies from the Indian government and from private enterprise, notably from India's largest tobacco company ITC Ltd., which is headquartered on the Chowringhee Road in Calcutta. This is controlled by British American Tobacco.

The aim is for there to be a race in the year 2000 but in order to achieve this a quick decision will be needed as construction work on the racing circuit will have to begin within a matter of months if everything is to be finished in time.