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PARIS: South Korea will stage its first Formula One race in 2010, motorsport's governing body announced on Monday.
The 19-race season will open in Bahrain on March 14 and the final race will take place in Brazil in November, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said.
After missing out in 2009, Canada would return to the circuit in 2010 with a June 13 date if agreement could be reached with Formula One Management which holds the sport's commercial rights.
If that is not completed then the Turkish Grand Prix will be moved back one week to June 6.
South Korea is spending tens of millions of dollars on a Formula One motor racing track in Yeongam county and officials are confident the Korean Grand Prix, set for October 17, will quickly make its mark.
Seoul has hosted the Olympics, the Asian Games and a football World Cup, but never a Formula One race, despite a major domestic auto industry.
Work is in progress at the site 320 kilometres south of the capital where seating to accommodate 135,000 spectators is being built.
The 5.6-kilometre circuit is being constructed on 172 hectares of reclaimed land alongside an artificial seaside lake.
Organisers say the main circuit will include Asia's longest straight stretch of 1.2 kilometres which will allow speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour. A separate three-kilometre circuit will be used for domestic events.
The national parliament approved a special law last Wednesday to help the province host the F1 championship as a national event for the next seven years.
South Korea currently has just two modest tracks for stock cars and touring cars. - AFP/de
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