Formula One: Uncertainty goes on for the Korean Grand Prix
The Organisers of South Korean Grand Prix are insistent that the track would be ready soon claiming that this season’s race would definitely take place.
As reported on Monday, the F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone showed his concern over the progress of work, fearing that there are possibilities that the track might not be ready in time. Until now, he has always been very positive,
showing full confidence over the progress of the work, time and again. However, as he talked to the press last Sunday, he showed dissatisfaction stating that the infrastructure is not in place properly to support the proceedings of the event.
However, in response to his discussion with the media, Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), the organisers of the event said that the race would be held on October 24, the scheduled date, as all work has almost already completed.
As per the FIA rules the final inspection of any track must be carried 60 days ahead of the race however, special leniency was shown for this 5.6-kilometre track as extra time was given to the organisers to complete their task. September 21st
was settled later for the final assessment but once again, it has been further delayed for another fortnight. Now finally 11th of October has been decided to see the track.
While talking to the reporters last Sunday, in Singapore, Ecclestone showed his concern, saying that he is not happy with the situation. The Formula One supremo proclaimed,
"We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off. It's quite dangerous what we've done actually. I mean, it's a case of 'do we cancel the race or not?' They say it is all going to be okay, so we hope they are right."
When he was asked about why he has left things for the eleventh hour, Ecclestone replied that he agrees to the fact that what they have done is quite dangerous. However, he added that there was hardly any other option and they had to decide between 'do we
cancel the race or not?' therefore he thinks that what he did was the best he could have done.
The spokesman for KAVO, Kim Jae-Ho, while talking to AFP said that the pace of the work is going great and the inspection was only delayed because of the three day autumn harvest holiday in South Korea last week.
"We will rush to complete work and FIA officials will see a complete circuit when they conduct a final inspection in two weeks," Kim further added.
He very lucidly told said that Ecclestone's remarks have been taken as a serious message for them and they have made even further arrangements to ensure timely completion.
Moreover, some of the teams have also shown their concern for the race as there are so many speculations regarding the race. The teams want to know if there are three or four races left for the season as that would decide their further strategy for the rest
of the season.
McLaren’s Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh expressed his views saying that they definitely want to see Korea on the calendar, as that adds another twenty five points to the season which can help them bag more points.
At the same time, Red Bull also wants the race to stay on the calendar as they seem more confident for the track than any of the other teams, after having Karun Chandhok completed a demonstration of the track at the wheel of a Red Bull car.
Korean Grand Prix will mark the 17th race of the season but only if it takes place.
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