Ukraine Aims to Host F1 Race

Bernie Ecclestone only had to share with the media his plans to extend the Formula 1 calendar to 25 races and every country in the world started dreaming. After the Russian and American dreams were fulfilled, Rome, Vietnam, Bulgaria and Qatar joined the club with F1 prospects of their own. And now the club has another member in Ukraine.

It wasn't until today that a high official of the Ukrainian government confirms plans to build an F1-purposed facility in the near future. During a press conference with the local media on Tuesday, Kiev's head of regional state administration Anatoliy Prysiazhniuk said that the authorities are evaluating a $1 billion project for the construction of an F1 track near the capital of Kiev.

“We will build an international track in the Polissia and Ivankiv districts in order to host international competitions,” said the aforementioned official, according to the Kyiv (Kiev) Post, as reported by Autosport.

“I saw the project, and experts from Europe assessed it. The project was drafted by a person from Denmark who built the tracks in the [United Arab] Emirates, Singapore and other countries. The track will meet all modern requirements,” he added.

According to his latest statements, the track would be approximately 5.2-kilometer long, while the F1 complex will include several hotels and accommodation, along with leisure facilities. Of course, investors are needed to fund the project, and according to Prysiazhniuk some have even expressed interest in joining in.

F1 supremo Ecclestone has already confirmed F1's first Grand Prix in Eastern Europe for 2014 – Russian Grand Prix – and is yet to give his go ahead on the project. As soon as he does, it is believed work will commence on the Kiev project from as early as next season.