As reported in the daily press, Sonthaya Kunplome (elder brother of Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and previously a member of parliament) has plans to invest 1.2 billion baht to build a world-class motor racing circuit near Pattaya. The circuit should be operational in 2017.
Backing up his projected capital expenditure is the report that the Bang Saen Speed Festival last year drew 400,000 spectators and generated 1.4 billion baht revenue for the city of Bang Saen.
Sonthaya Kunplome.
This projected circuit is to be a Category 2 track and will not be directly competing against the F1 level circuit at Buriram.
Looking at the success he has made with the Bang Saen Speed Festival, I am quite sure that he can make a new circuit in Chonburi province a winner.
I just hope that he will include the Retro division in the categories to race there. In Europe and the UK, they are getting bigger crowds to the Retro class than they are to F1 and British Touring cars.
