Bernie Ecclestone says he is determined to establish an Asian winter series for F1’s feeder category GP2.

Eager to continue expanding the sport into emerging markets, the F1 supremo thinks establishing a premier open-wheeler category in Asia is a key way to attract more non-European drivers to the grid.

Ecclestone, 76, said only top single seater drivers will be taken seriously by grand prix teams.

“You can’t just pick anyone out of a saloon car (for F1),” he told the newspaper New Straits Times in an interview.

“So, really, we have to run (a) championship in Asia at a higher level, and then for sure, we’re going to find more drivers.”

Referring specifically to GP2, Ecclestone said: “I want to make sure we bring that series to Asia in the winter, so hopefully we get to find a few drivers through the exposure.”

[GMM]

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