Formula One grand prix in India receives cold reception

India's government believes hosting a Formula One race will have no impact on the development of sport in the country, local media reported yesterday.

India is scheduled to host its first F1 grand prix in 2011, but the sports ministry has described it as "entertainment" and said it failed to meet certain sporting criteria.

The sports ministry's comments came in a letter in January in which it rejected a request by race promoters JPSK Sports to remit $36.5 million in foreign currency to the British-based F1 Administration, Times of India reported.

"It (the race) would have no impact on the development of sports in the country," ministry officials told the paper.

"F1 is not purely sports. It is entertainment and this venture by JPSK is a commercial initiative," an unnamed ministry official said.

"The proposed F1 race does not satisfy conditions which focus on human endeavour for excelling in competition with others, keeping in view the whole sports movement from Olympics downwards."

The company's managing director, Samir Gaur, told the newspaper it was fully committed to the project despite the ministry's stand.

"Yes, we went to the ministry seeking government concessions. If need be, we will go again," he said.

"We're 200 per cent committed to the F1 race in India."

Cricket-mad India has warmed up to Formula One with support zooming since Narain Karthikeyan became the first Indian driver in the series in 2005.

While there is no Indian driver currently in Formula One, liquor and airline billionaire Vijay Mallya owns the Force India team.