Austin GP in disarray as construction comes to a halt – Formula 1 news
Construction work has come to a halt at the Austin circuit in Texas, US due to some contractual ambiguities.
The halt on construction has made earlier speculations even stronger over doubts of the Austin circuit to be ready for the 2012 Grand Prix which is scheduled for November 18, 2012. Sources say that key officials have confirmed the construction work has been
delayed due to the contract not being finalised for the circuit to hold a race yet.
The construction will not begin until it is assured that the US will be hosting a Grand Prix in 2012 at the venue.
“We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP Championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern,” Bobby Epstein, founding partner of the Circuit of the Americas, said.
The Texas state comptroller Susan Combs raised the concern over the event and confirmed earlier speculation that there will be no state funding spent on the project until after the race. This has come as a surprise and a roadblock as the organisers had been
banking on at least $25 million from the Texas state.
Earlier it was speculated that since New Jersey has been confirmed for a street circuit to be built for a Grand Prix event in 2013, the new project will make it difficult for Austin to get further funding. Combs’ admitted that the second race to be held
in the US has led to some doubts over a Grand Prix event at the Austin circuit.
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone though has given his statement to control the panic surrounding the event.
He said, “It is a bit of an uphill struggle but we will try and get there. There are two parties - one has a track and is building it, and the other has got the race contract. And they forgot to talk to each other.”
The event also faced risk of work not being done at pace for the circuit to be ready for the race in time, but only time will show how things shape up.
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