Iran to Build Formula 1 Circuit

Soltanifar said, "Iran has so many young people with an increasing tendency for driving. Formula 1 has a great future in Iran. Qeshm Island has the potential to become one of the world's most beautiful Formula 1 destination."

Iran's former plans to build a circuit had Parand City, 35 kilometres to the south of the country's capital Tehran, picked as the location. However, authorities seem to have now decided upon the island in the Persian Gulf as the location. Qeshm - the largest island in the Persian Gulf - sports rocky coastlines that are punctuated with several small villages.

Over the last decade, the Middle East's popularity as a destination for Formula 1 has grown - while Bahrain and Abu Dhabi already host F1 races, Qatar is said to be on the quest to have its name added to the list.

With reports suggesting the expansion of the F1 calendar to up to 25 races in the future, the addition of new circuits will only help. For now, the a proposed 2016 Formula 1 schedule suggests it will include 21 races among a host of other changes. Most importantly, there will be 7 pairs of races held on consecutive weekends.