It would not be easy to host a Formula One race in Bangkok and it may need a public hearing, officials said yesterday.
Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) governor Kanokphand Chulakasem met Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone during the Singapore Grand Prix at the weekend.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, Ecclestone has agreed for Thailand to host a race in 2014. He said it would be a night race and that Ecclestone wanted it to take place in Bangkok.
The government would shoulder 60 per cent of the total cost and the rest would be paid by private companies such as Red Bull and Singha, he said. However, further talks are needed to finalise details, officials said.
Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said a Formula One race would help boost the country's tourism.
"It would be a challenging task for Thailand. It may not be easy for Thailand to host a race. There may be several problems to solve before Thailand hosts a race such as noise pollution," he said.
A high-ranking SAT official said it may not be possible to organise a race in Bangkok where there are a lot of buildings and sacred places.
Also the ministry should ask Bangkok residents if they want a Formula One race, said the official, who asked not to be named.
"It would not be easy to host a race in Bangkok. We may need a public hearing to make sure that Bangkok residents agree with the idea," he said.
"A large number of Bangkok residents care more about how to make a living and are not devout Formula One fans."
The official said that a possible way was to organise a race in other areas such as Pattaya in Chon Buri.
The government earlier said the venue could be Bangkok's Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Chiang Mai or Chon Buri.
The idea of Ratchadamnoen Avenue hosting a Grand Prix race was initiated by Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanuban _ better known as Prince Bira _ the country's first and only Grand Prix winner.
He planned to close roads in the Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen areas in 1939 for a Bangkok Grand Prix but his dream was dashed when World War II broke out.
In 2010, more than 100,000 people watched Thailand's first ever exhibition of Formula One driving on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Red Bull's Mark Webber drove his car for four laps from Phan Fa Bridge to the Khok Wua intersection.