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The Russian government will spend about $200 million to build the circuit that will host the country's first Formula 1 grand pix in 2014.

"The federal government has allocated 5.846 billion roubles ($195.4 million) for this project," Alaxander Ivanov, deputy governor of the Krasnodar region, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Russia secured a seven-year deal to host a grand prix on a new track in Sochi, which is also hosting that year's Winter Olympics.

That had raised fears that the first grand prix may be delayed for a year in order to not slow down preparations for the Olympics.

Despite that, officials had said earlier this year that the building of the circuit was on schedule.