Money from Formula 1 has been used to develop a race track in Syria just a few miles from a jail where as many as 13,000 people have been executed under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Over the past eight years the country has been ravaged by a bitter civil war which has left more than 400,000 people dead and led to 11.7m Syrians requiring aid this year alone according to data from the United Nations.

Company documents show that the Syrian Automobile Club (SAC) were awarded funding for a new racetrack in the war-torn dictatorship to develop a new generation of racing drivers who will eventually compete in a national championship.

The funds came from a grant scheme from F1’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) which operates in 144 countries around the world. F1 funds the regulator.

Syria had already been awarded money for safety equipment for its racing sport scene. But now money has been granted for a full racing circuit for karting, a feeder sport for F1.