Preparations for an inaugural grand prix in India are still on track for 2010, Force India team boss Vijay Mallya says.

The Indian billionaire, who is also head of the Indian national motor sporting federation, said recently that organisers have obtained land, set aside race fees, and will build a circuit outside the capital city Delhi.

It is understood Mallya is not directly involved, but he explained to F1 reporters at Hockenheim last week that the CEO of one of India's biggest banks is backing the project.

Construction of the track will begin in early October, Mallya said.

"For the first time, now I think I feel very confident to be able to say to you that there will be a brand new track and that we will have our first grand prix in 2010," he said last Friday.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was in the Indian city Mumbai this week and he also backed the plans for a grand prix in the country.

"India is certainly going to have an impact on formula one in the next couple of years," the McLaren driver said.

"I believe the Indian market is enormous and if F1 can tap it, then it will benefit F1 as well as India in the long run," the Briton added.

Source: GMM