New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS): Thailand could be well on the way to host a Formula One race in 2014.

The Southeast Asian country made its intentions clear by successfully bidding to host this year's end-of-season Race of Champions in December which will be attended by reigning World champion Sebastian Vettel and racing legend Michael Schumacher.

Local newspapers have also suggested that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given a thumbs-up to Thailand hosting a Grand Prix two years down the line.

"Our discussions with Bernie Ecclestone have gone smoothly. We expect to get rights to host a Grand Prix from 2014 onwards," Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, was quoted by Phuket News.

Much of the impetus for a Formula One event comes from Red Bull, which was founded in Thailand, and currently owns the constructors' World Championship winning team by the same name, according to Thai daily The Nation.

Two years ago Mark Webber also performed a street demonstration on a course laid out on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok in the vicinity of the proposed track.