Monday, April 11 2005 13:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today (Apr 11, 2005) pledged full support for bringing Formula-I racing to the city.

She gave the assurance when racing icon Naraian Karthikeyan, the first ever Indian to feature in Formula I, called on her at the secretariat, an official release said.

During the meeting, Karthikeyan explained all the features of Formula I racing and the tremendous viewership the sport commanded.

He requested the Chief Minister to support the proposal to bring Formula I racing to Chennai as the city was the "automobile capital of India" and should automatically be the choice, the release said.

Jayalalithaa told him that she had already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for establishment of a Motor Racing Circuit and an Automobile Testing Facility in Chennai. She had also drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to the need to bring Formula I racing to the city, it said.

"The Chief Minister indicated that the proposal to establish a Formula-I racing circuit would receive her full support," the release said.

During the meeting, Principal Secretary, Finance, N Narayanan was also present.