JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has attempted to obtain rights to host a Formula One race in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara province in 2021, an official said today.
President-Director of Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) Abdulbar M. Mansoer made the statement after meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at a palace situated at Bogor town, an outskirt city of the country's capital of Jakarta.
The race was expected to be held along with the MotoGP race, the director said.
"The president said that it would be more efficient for the Indonesian country branding, if Indonesia also staged a Formula One race, which is a world-class, prestigious sporting event," he said on Wednesday night.
Indonesia won a contract to host MotoGP in 3 years, commencing from 2021, beating out Brazil, which also bid to host the sport event.
Indonesia will construct a MotoGP street circuit in West Nusa Tenggara province this year.
The Indonesian government has built roads, an airport, a hospital, and other infrastructure facilities ahead of the MotoGP race.
The street circuit in Mandalika will have a 4.32 kilometers track with 18 turns in 106 hectares of land.
