Bulgaria keen to host Formula One race

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria has set its sights on hosting a Formula One race in the near future, the Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation (BMF) said.

"It'll be very difficult but I think we'll succeed," BMF's president Bogdan Nikolov was quoted as saying in 24 Chasa daily Monday.

Nikolov said they would submit a plan and an application to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on December 15 for consideration by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone the following day.

According to the plan, a circuit is to be built near the Balkan country's northern town of Pleven.

Bulgaria is due to host a round of the World Rally Championship in 2010 and hope to host a round of motorcycling's MotoGP in 2011.

(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)