Construction begins on Vietnam GP

Construction work has begun on building the Vietnam Grand Prix circuit, with FIA president Jean Todt hoping the new race will inspire a greater motorsport tradition in the country. A part street circuit course through Hanoi will be introduced to the calendar from next year.

The new race will add another event to Asia, following the departure of Malaysia after the end of 2018, with events in Korea and India also coming and going in recent years.

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News of the race's addition to the 2020 calendar was not met with universal approval, with historic tracks such as Silverstone and Monza not guaranteed a long-term future in F1.

However, the chief of global motorsport hopes that the race will have a positive impact, having laid the foundation stone ahead of construction beginning.

"It's fantastic for the development of the motorsport in Vietnam and in the region," Todt told reporters.

"I really hope that soon here will also be facilities to host kart racing, drifting racing.

"You have young people, talented with a passion for motorsports, that's why I think it's very important to involve very quickly a new category of motorsport."

The Hanoi race is still expected to be added to on the 2020 schedule by a street race in Miami, despite Liberty Media's failure to add the race to this year's calendar.