• Indian Grand Prix

2014 Indian GP under threat

ESPN Staff
July 29, 2013 « Ferrari must understand new tyres - Domenicali | Finishing second is not enough - Raikkonen »
India may not be on the calendar in 2014 © Sutton Images
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The Indian Grand Prix could be axed from the calendar in 2014 after Bernie Ecclestone cast fresh doubts over the race.

"Is India going to happen next year? Probably not," Ecclestone told Reuters in Hungary. Asked what the issue with racing in India was, he added: "Very political."

India's strict tax regime has caused concerns for Formula One since it first started racing there in 2011, with high customs duties and even corporation tax being levelled at the teams on each visit. Race organisers Jaypee Sports International recently insisted the race would continue until the end of its contract in 2015 and even offered to cover tax bills the teams might face. However, Ecclestone's latest comments suggest the situation is far from sorted.

The comments also come one week after Ecclestone agreed terms with the Red Bull Ring in Austria to return to the calendar. Along with Russia, New Jersey and the current 19 races on the calendar, Austria's addition would bring the number of races to 22 next year. Therefore there is speculation that two races will be dropped in order to bring the calendar back down to the unofficial limit of 20 race agreed by the teams.

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