Buri Ram will become Southeast Asia’s motorsport hub in the near future, Newin Chidchob, president of Buriram International Circuit said yesterday.
Newin Chidchob, centre, at yesterday’s press conference to announce that a Super GT event will be held at his Buriram International Circuit in October.
The 4.5km circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke of Germany, is expected to be complete in August, two months before it hosts a Super GT Series event from Oct 4-5.
“We will be ready for the event,” Newin told yesterday’s press conference. “It will be the biggest ever motorsport event in Thailand.”
In the build-up to the Super GT event, there will be a four-day motorsport festival. BRIC is Newin’s latest sporting project after his success in turning Buriram United into one of Thailand’s best football clubs.
“It took us for years for Buriram United to be on the world football map,’’ said Newin, one of the most influential people in his home province of Buri Ram.
“In the next three years, we will be on the world motorsport map.
“Thailand has everything to help us become the hub of motorsport in the region.”
According to Newin, the circuit has been approved by motorsport governing body FIA and motorcycle governing organisation FIM. He plans to bring MotoGP and World Super Bike to his circuit.
“More motorsport competitions will come to BRIC soon,’’ said Newin.
The Super GT event to be held at BRIC in October is one of two races under a two-year contract. It will be the only race outside Japan and the seventh and penultimate race of the season.
MCOT HD30 will be BRIC’s media partner, Newin said.
Meanwhile, Red Bull on Thursday officially lodged their appeal against Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification from second place in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, the FIA confirmed.
The Formula One champions’ protest arrived at FIA’s Paris headquarters shortly before the deadline.
Red Bull had made it plain ever since Ricciardo lost his his runner-up spot to Nico Rosberg in the Melbourne stewards room on a technical infringement that they would challenge the ruling.
Ricciardo’s fate now lies in the hands of the FIA’s board which will sit in the next few weeks.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has absolved Ricciardo of any blame in the bungle.
After a marathon hearing, stewards in Melbourne said the 24-year-old’s car was not in compliance with F1 regulations after he exceeded the maximum fuel flow, or rate of fuel consumption, of 100kg/h.
It made Ricciardo the first casualty of new limits on fuel load and fuel flow introduced this year.
“It is no fault of Daniel. I don’t believe it is the fault of the team,” Horner said. Bangkok Post/AFP