India's dream of hosting a Formula One grand prix could turn into reality in 2010, according to local motorsport officials.

F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said recently that he was in negotiations with a regional government in India to build a race track, without identifying which one.

"There has been expression of interest to Bernie from parties from Punjab/Haryana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu," Vicky Chandhok, chairman, Corporate Communications, Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, told Reuters yesterday.

"Potential investors have been told to look at building a multi-utility complex to combine sport and fun and keep F1 as an incidental activity," he added.

Ecclestone is keen to expand further in Asia, with South Korea already promised a race for 2010, and has marked India as a strong candidate.

"In the next 10 years, Europe is going to become a third world economy," the Briton said two years ago. "There's no way Europe will be able to compete with China, Korea and India."

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