Formula One gurus express fear about Yeongam deadline
As Korea’s inaugural Grand Prix draws closer, fears are being expressed that the Yeongam track in South Jeolla province, South Korea, will not be ready for its October 24 Formula One debut. The track has
pushed back a series of deadlines, despite requiring an inspection by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) at least 90 days before the racing event takes place.
“It’s not good. It should have been inspected six weeks ago,” stated F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone. “We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off. What we’ve done is
quite dangerous. It’s a question of do we cancel the race or not? They say everything will be OK – we have to hope they’re right.”
Despite construction commencing in 2007, the 5.621 km circuit still requires extensive work on its race facilities, and construction has been hampered by the heavy rains in Korea this summer. Yet spokesman
Kim Jae-Ho from the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), emphasizes that the track will be finished on time.
“We will have no problem in hosting the race on October 24 as we have almost completed work,” he insisted. “We will rush to complete work and FIA officials will see a complete circuit when they conduct
a final inspection in two weeks. We take Ecclestone’s remarks seriously as a message that we have to step up preparations for the race.”
Ecclestone’s comments also resonated with former F1 driver and BBC F1 analyst Martin Brundle, who believes that the F1 supremo is using pressure tactics to make sure that the Korean officials get into
shape on schedule.
“It’s very unusual for Bernie to send a message like that unless he wants to get a message out [to Korea],” Brundle observed. “It was very powerful. I actually think he’s just giving a few people there
a serious hurry-up and a warning. I think we will be going to the race, because it would have a massive impact on the championship if there are only three rounds remaining instead of four. Whether the alternative would be to try to put another race on or we
could have a double-header at one of the existing venues remains to be seen.”
As for McLaren’s team principal Martin Whitmarsh, the Korean Grand Prix is crucial for drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. “We would like to get a lot of points there, and we want more races. I think
there are clearly, from everything we hear, a lot of concerns there, but I think we have to assume that Bernie and the Koreans are working on that. We have to concentrate now on going to Suzuka and maximising our points.”
Renault team principal Eric Boullier added, “It is a worry because we would have spent money for nothing. It is extra work for nothing. It is not easy to understand in advance if it will be ready or not
– and that is clearly not good.”
Yet Red Bull boss Christian Horner is optimistic that Korea will hold its first Grand Prix on time. “I think we will definitely be in Korea,” he stressed. “I had a chat with some representatives earlier
and they now seem pretty confident. We were there a few weeks ago [for a Red Bull demonstration] and they were well on course with it, so we are pretty confident. At the moment all the flights are still booked. I think they'll get it done. They’re pretty committed
and I think the race will happen.”
With the first practice session scheduled less than a month away, it will be a test of the organizers’ vigilance and the side of fate to launch the nation’s next great sporting event successfully. The
Korean Grand Prix – pending FIA inspection – is set to be held from October 22 through 24.
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