Ecclestone puts off Indian GP, Jaypee keen on 2015 return

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Jaypee Group, promoters of the Formula One Indian Grand Prix, are still keen on holding the 2015 race as scheduled despite F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone wanting it to be pushed further to 2016.

A day after Ecclestone said that a planned Indian Grand Prix return in 2015 was ruled out, Sameer Gaur, chief executive of Jaypee Sports International (JPSI), told IANS they want the race to be held in 2015 after it was dropped in 2014.

Gaur said he would have a one-on-one with Ecclestone for a mutually agreed date in 2015.

“I have not yet read the media reports on the Indian Grand Prix. I will soon set a meeting up with Mr. Ecclestone and talk to him directly over the matter. As I have said earlier, I would want the race to return next year but lets see what comes out from the meeting with Mr. Ecclestone,” Gaur told IANS over the phone from Lucknow.

Gaur maintained that race had a long future and will last the five-year contract amidst concerns from all stakeholders on bureaucratic and tax hurdles.

The India Grand Prix was dropped from this year’s calendar, three years after its highly successful debut in 2011.

While cancelling the 2014 race, Ecclestone had told IANS that the race would be rescheduled to first half of the 2015 season as a part of the Asian leg.

But Wednesday, the 83-year-old magnate was quoted as saying in the English media that the India round was more probable for 2016, by which Azerbaijan will be ready for its F1 debut.

“Probably 2016… they’re (India) gradually getting over all the bureaucracy with the tax position inside the country and the general finance,” said Ecclestone, who has always maintained that India is an important venue for F1.