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LONDON, England - Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has raised doubts over whether the inaugural Grand Prix of America, scheduled for New Jersey in 2013, will go ahead.
British newspaper The Guardian has quoted Ecclestone as saying the organisers "have not complied with the terms and conditions of the contract which is now gone anyway. They don't have a contract".
ANOTHER STREET CIRCUIT
Work has begun on the race site and demonstration runs have been held with world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany test driving the course in June 2012.
The race is planned to be run on existing streets in Port Imperial, Weehawken, and the town of West New York, along the Hudson River with the New York City skyline as the backdrop. It was given provisional status on the calendar for the 2013 season which will be discussed at the World Motor Sports Council on Friday, Sept 28, 2012..
"We are pretty close to the deadline," Ecclestone told The Guardian. "We have a world council meeting coming up. I think if someone got behind them it could happen in 2013 because they have come a long way with the circuit."
A spokeswoman for the race planners, the Grand Prix of America, declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
AUSTIN GIVEN 'ALL-CLEAR'
Meanwhile, the November 2012 US race, the new US GP at the "Circuit of the Americas" track in Austin has been given the all-clear by F1's governing body. Charlie Whiting, head of racing, safety and technical matters for the FIA, approved the circuit for "Grade 1" status after a recent visit, organisers of the November 16-18 race said.
"Everything I've seen so far has been absolutely first-class and the progress that's been made since the last time I was there is amazing," Whiting said. "The guys have done an awesome job - it really is quite fantastic. It's built to the highest quality, exactly as we expected, and I've got absolutely no complaints."
The last F1 race in the US was at Indianapolis in 2007 and was won by British McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton.
Watkins Glen International held the US Grand Prix from 1961-80 while F1 races have also been held at Long Beach in California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Indianapolis.
British newspaper The Guardian has quoted Ecclestone as saying the organisers "have not complied with the terms and conditions of the contract which is now gone anyway. They don't have a contract".
ANOTHER STREET CIRCUIT
Work has begun on the race site and demonstration runs have been held with world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany test driving the course in June 2012.
The race is planned to be run on existing streets in Port Imperial, Weehawken, and the town of West New York, along the Hudson River with the New York City skyline as the backdrop. It was given provisional status on the calendar for the 2013 season which will be discussed at the World Motor Sports Council on Friday, Sept 28, 2012..
"We are pretty close to the deadline," Ecclestone told The Guardian. "We have a world council meeting coming up. I think if someone got behind them it could happen in 2013 because they have come a long way with the circuit."
A spokeswoman for the race planners, the Grand Prix of America, declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
AUSTIN GIVEN 'ALL-CLEAR'
Meanwhile, the November 2012 US race, the new US GP at the "Circuit of the Americas" track in Austin has been given the all-clear by F1's governing body. Charlie Whiting, head of racing, safety and technical matters for the FIA, approved the circuit for "Grade 1" status after a recent visit, organisers of the November 16-18 race said.
"Everything I've seen so far has been absolutely first-class and the progress that's been made since the last time I was there is amazing," Whiting said. "The guys have done an awesome job - it really is quite fantastic. It's built to the highest quality, exactly as we expected, and I've got absolutely no complaints."
The last F1 race in the US was at Indianapolis in 2007 and was won by British McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton.
Watkins Glen International held the US Grand Prix from 1961-80 while F1 races have also been held at Long Beach in California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Indianapolis.