India's hopes of hosting a Formula One grand prix as early as 2009 gained a boost on Wednesday when Delhi's chief minister welcomed the idea of having a street race like the one in Monaco.

"If it comes to India, which I hope it will, I'd really welcome it," Sheila Dixit told reporters after her meeting with leading Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines is a new sponsor of the Toyota F1 team.

"It certainly is feasible. We had an extremely positive meeting with the chief minister, who is entirely supportive of the idea," Mallya said.

"One of the areas which we believe would be beautiful and has a lot of heritage value is in and around the India Gate," Mallya added.

Toyola driver Ralf Schumacher, on a visit to India for the new team sponsor, said: "Clearly from what I have seen, it will be a great event. I am looking forward to it and hopefully it will happen."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is keen to expand the sport's reach further in Asia, with South Korea already promised a grand prix for 2010 and Singapore hoping for a street race as well.

India, with a booming economy and more than 500 million people under the age of 20, is a strong candidate.

The country had a first Formula One driver in Narain Karthikeyan, now a Williams tester, in 2005.

"Yes, cricket is like a religion in this country. I am not saying 1.1 billion people are going to watch F-1. But there is more than enough appetite out there," Mallya said.