King of Good Times` Mallya confident of India hosting F1 Grand Prix in 2015

Washington – Indian business magnate and the co-owner of Formula One side Force India, Dr. Vijay Mallya has said he is confident that there will be a Grand Prix in India again in 2015.

Dubbed the ‘King of Good Times’ for the playboy style of his younger days and his ownership of Kingfisher breweries, Mallya made the statement following Indian motorsport head Vicky Chandhok’s fears that F1 may never return to India despite promises to the contrary for 2015.

According to CNN, Mallya is confident that there will be an Indian GP in 2015 with 2014 given a skip because of scheduling issues (three new GPs scheduled next year), adding that he has tried to persuade his ‘good friend’ F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone that India should not be ignored as it has a good market with its economic opportunities.

The report mentioned that Ecclestone shelved the Indian GP, to be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida this year, for 2014 because of increasing costs due to rupee depreciation and tax issues faced by the teams.

However, Mallya admitted that there might be need of a new approach from the Indian government to secure the event’s future, adding that although the Delhi Grand Prix is staged by the track owners without any government involvement, he wishes that the Indian government would force some support to F1 to boost its own image.

Stating that India finally holding a Grand Prix was a ‘dream come true’ for him, Mallya further said that although India has its fair share of challenges, there is no drought of potential fans despite cricket holding the No.1 position for which there is still a hope for the sport in the country.