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| © AP Photo/Saurabh Das |
India has been ruled out as a potential setting to host Formula 1 tests considering the strains it would place on logistics and costs for the European-based teams.
Host to the Indian Grand Prix, the Buddh International Circuit had intended to hold one of the pre-season tests next year, but Formula 1 officials declared Spain as the destination for all the three sessions.
"Given the time and logistics constraints involved in testing new cars pre-season, it's unlikely we'd look for venues outside of Europe,” Lotus press officer Andy Stobart told the Indo-Asian News Service. “The BIC is a fantastic facility, but not one we've considered for pre-season testing."
A Force India official explained to the news agency that Europe was a convenient location.
“No doubt the weather in India is a lot better than the snowy conditions here, but the cost involved is something most teams are not ready for,” said the official. “Also, the cumbersome customs clearance is a dampener.”