Vietnam on Wednesday began construction of a race track within the capital Hanoi, where the Southeast Asian city will host its first Formula 1 race next 12 months.
“This important event will provide Vietnam – and especially its capital – with international exposure,” said FIA President Jean Todt Reuters in the course of the circuit’s foundation stone laying ceremony.
Last 12 months, at a press conference to rejoice Hanoi’s successful deal to host the F1 race, To Van Dong, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ha Noi, said the race could be officially launched in April 2020 for ten years, VVietnam Network reported.
The Vietnam Grand Prix is the latest road race on the F1 calendar, alongside Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan.
According to Nhan Dan onlinethis track will probably be designed by the Formula 1 Group and the German company Tilke, meeting all technical and safety requirements regulated by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
The 5,565-kilometer (3.4-mile) track west of Hanoi is anticipated to be accomplished by March next 12 months, Vingroup, parent company of the Vietnam Grand Prix, said in a press release.
It is positioned 12 km west of the town center, near My Dinh National Stadium. Although it’ll be mainly a street track, it’ll have purpose-built sections and a newly built pit and paddock complex.
CIRCUIT GUIDE: HANOI 🇻🇳
Take a take a look at the twists, turns and monster straights that can host the launch event #VietnamGP in 2020 >> https://t.co/ApmdUDablw #F1 pic.twitter.com/M6UwDdotDd
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2018
ESPN reported that the track is described as a “unique hybrid layout” with “an actual desire to avoid the monotonous 90-degree turns at road junctions and create a layout that facilitates wheel-to-wheel racing, while retaining the enclosed street feel that makes urban racetracks so demanding for drivers.”
The layout of the Hermann Tilke-designed track was released by Formula One, which stated that the opening turns were modeled after Turns 1 and a couple of on the Nurburgring, while other sections drew inspiration from the track in Monaco, Suzuka and the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. There can also be a 1.5 km long straight where cars reach speeds of 335 km/h (208 mph), after which there may be a tough braking zone.
Although the country doesn’t have much tradition in motorsports, sporting events and competitions by which the national team performs even marginally are widely watched and passionately celebrated.
