A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport’s former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam,” the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month. The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined ’emeritus’ role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely. Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said the Vietnamese government was willing to pay a significant amount to promote the Southeast Asian country by hosting a grand prix. “They haven’t made a contract yet as far as I know. But if they have, it’s at least two years away isn’t it?,” he said. The Malaysian Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after last year’s race but Formula One bosses have talked about expanding in China. There have also been talks with Thailand, which came to nothing, but Vietnam is already an important emerging market for some of the sport’s global sponsors such as Dutch brewer Heineken. Ecclestone told Reuters last year that he had talks with the Vietnamese while he was running Formula One but decided, despite the money on offer, against taking the sport there because he felt there were enough races in that part of the world. He also recalled Liberty’s criticism subsequent to their… [Read full story]
A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport's former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. "I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam," the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month. The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined 'emeritus' role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely. Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said…... [read more]
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Sunday drove a Formula 1 racing car for several hours on a special track at a speed of 240 km per hour in Russia's northeast region of St. Petersburg, showing again his tough image. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin drives a Renault racing car at the race track outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Putin tested his capacities as a Formula One driver. (Photo: chinanews.com.cn) State television showed the premier putting on a helmet with Russia's national emblem of the double-headed-eagle and the words Russia, wearing a Formula 1 outfit and getting…... [read more]
Formula 1 of Sailing to tour Vietnam By Tu Tam - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC - Vietnam will be the 8th destination of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), the leading professional sailing series featuring nine World Championship events across the globe, in 2010's events series. Nha Trang City of Khanh Hoa Province has been chosen for the race to take place in this September, from 21-26. This is the first time the world's leading yacht race series come to Vietnam. The local name for the event in Vietnam is Vietnam Match Cup. Peter Gilmour, president of Word Match…... [read more]
It was a rainy afternoon in June in Hanoi when members of the BK LEAD of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Aerodynamic Institute were finishing their 'Formula 1' car for Formula SAE, a design competition organized by theSociety of Automotive Engineers International for students around the world. At the competition - which is scheduled to take place in Japan from September 2 to 6 - the prototype race car is to be evaluated for its potential as a production item. Each student team designs, builds, and tests their prototype cars. This year, the contest gathers hundreds of participating…... [read more]
Saigontourist launches tour to Singapore for Formula 1 By Dao Loan - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC - Saigontourist Travel Service Company has just launched a new package tour to Singapore offering tourists the chance to watch the Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2009 that will take place in the island country this weekend. "Prices are different depending on the standards of hotel. The cost of tickets for watching the race in three nights is also included," said Doan Thi Thanh Tra, manager of the marketing department of Saigontourist. The tour operator pledges to acquire race tickets for tourists…... [read more]
