Aug.03 (GMM) The Force India owner Vijay Mallya has no doubts 2011 season inaugural Indian Grand Prix will be delivered and on time. India is presently penciled in to make its Formula One debut at some stage in 2011, with work presently under way on the circuit outside New Delhi.
There remain doubts as to whether the race will come to fruition, but Mallya is convinced it will happen after speaking with track designer Hermann Tilke in the Valencia paddock ahead of tomorrow's European Grand Prix.
"The 2011 Indian Grand Prix is now looking like a reality," said Mallya.
"There is a very substantial group behind it, the JP Group, who are very large real-estate and infrastructure developers.
"They have a huge tract of land and are building sport city, one element of which is the Formula One track which is being designed by Mr Tilke, who has several of the newer tracks to his credit.
"I bumped into him when I was coming into the paddock and he said everything is on track, we've seen pictures and there is some real progress.
"Now I can safely say I am personally convinced the track will be built, will be completed and there will be an inaugural grand prix next year."
Mallya has so far resisted the obvious of appointing an Indian driver to his team, even though it has not been for the want of looking.
Mallya is keen for it to happen, which is why he is poised to start up an Indian driver development programme.
"We are going to launch a nationwide programme in India to identify young talent and this is a pretty complex exercise," added Mallya.
"It involves several karting tracks all over the country, a whole organised method of getting people to enter, a competitive environment and a competitive programme.
"Then we will probably take those with exceptional talent, bring them to either England or Europe, pay for them, their education and their karting.
"We will literally mentor them through until they can sit in a Formula One cockpit, and we are absolutely committed to do that."
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