Turkey's F1 circuit plan revealed
Designs for Turkey's new £40 million Formula One circuit has been revealed to the public for the first time by the country's motorsports federation.
The Hermann Tilke-designed track near Istanbul is scheduled to hold its first Formula 1 World Championship event in 2005.
The project was officially launched in Istanbul with an event attended by Turkish premier Tayyip Erdogan and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Large numbers of tourists are expected to make the state-funded project a success.
"We expect serious income from this project," said Erdogan. "We have set aside $27million for it."
Construction has begun on the circuit at Pandik on the eastern outskirts of Istanbul. Covered grandstands will provide seating for 75,000 spectators, but the track will have a total capacity of around 100,000.
Turkish organisers have signed a contract with Ecclestone from 2005 through 2011 but the government will have to pay a $25million penalty if the track is not completed in time.
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