• Thai Grand Prix

Thai GP plans in tatters over racing ban

ESPN Staff
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Mark Webber demonstrated an F1 car in Bangkok in 2010, but racing in the city has now been banned © Getty Images
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The proposed Thai Grand Prix in 2015 looks set to be abandoned after a legislation banned racing on the streets of Bangkok.

The plans were for a race around some of Bangkok's most historic monuments, with the layout having been approved by the Sports Authorty of Thailand in April for a potential night race. However, the final plans needed to be signed off by the government and since then a new law has been passed which bans racing in the city's historic quarter.

"The law came into effect on 16 May prohibiting car racing in inner Bangkok because that area is a conservation for culture and arts," director general Kriangphon Pattanarat told AFP.

The department for sport and tourism was left to admit that its plans are ruined by the new law, with minister Somsak Phurisisak saying it could halt the race coming to Thailand.

"I was told yesterday about the new city planning law," he told the Bangkok Post. "Whatever is illegal we will not do … We may have to cancel the proposed grand prix."

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