Hanoi People's Committee on Wednesday morning held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Formula One racetrack in Nam Tu Liem District.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Formula One racetrack in Hanoi's Nam Tu Liem District on March 20

According to the committee, the racetrack and supporting facilities will be built on an area of 88 hectares of My Dinh Sports Complex and some surrounding streets including Le Quang Dao and Le Duc Tho.

The 5.565km racetrack was designed by German firm Tilke and Formula 1 Group. The track will be the world's first combination of existing roads and a part of the planned area of the My Dinh sports complex. 

The construction is expected to be completed by March 2020 and the first race will be held a month after that.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony, Automobile Federation (FIA)'s President Jean Todt said that he was surprised when Vietnam wanted to host the F1 race while not having held any other FIA races before. 

Automobile Federation President Jean Todt speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony Formula One racetrack in Hanoi on March 20

"But I believed in the success of the F1 race in Hanoi," he said.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung expressed the wish for continued support from Todt to complete the racetrack in April 2010 as scheduled. 

"Hanoi wants to host more motor races in the future," Chung said, adding that Honda Vietnam had proposed a 150cc race in the city. 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung shakes hands with Automobile Federation President Jean Todt at the ceremony

In a Tuesday reception held by Hanoi chairman for FIA President, the guest also said that Hanoi’s hosting of the race will help improve Vietnam’s status in Asia.

Dtinews