Motor Racing: Hanoi to host F1 race in 2020

HANOI: Hanoi will host a Formula One race in April 2020, city officials said on Thursday (Nov. 1), a first for the Southeast Asian nation where racing is still a fringe sport.

The race will be hosted in Vietnam's capital city, with the circuit set to be unveiled at a "Gala" next week, Hanoi People's Committee said in an invitation to the event.

"The city of Hanoi managed to enter the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship (from) April 2020," the letter read.

Authorities said earlier this year they supported the idea of ​​hosting a race, but it would not be possible to pay for the event.

"The prime minister said if Hanoi hosts (a race), the budget should be from the private sector," Mai Tien Dung, head of the government office, said in August.

He added that advertising revenue from the event could be "huge" and would likely cover the cost of the event.

Hanoi's scenic Hoan Kiem lake near the bustling of the Old Quarter, but it's not a place to stay.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting told reporters in October that he had visited the site in Hanoi and was confident the circuit would be ready for the 2020 season.

He said much of the race would be needed, according to Fox Sports.

"That should not be a problem based on previous experience," he said.

Formula One breeds can be costly endeavors and are seen as financially risky for host cities.

Although informal – and illegal – motorbike street racing, and a nascent offroad racing have been gaining traction in Vietnam in recent years, the most popular of the football-mad.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country to host a Formula One race in history after Malaysia and Singapore.

Hanoi will be the second Southeast Asian city to host a race in 2020 along with Singapore.