Responding to continued reports of doubts by Ecclestone, Circuit of the Americas President Steve Sexton releases a statement, saying: “Our funding is secured and construction is on schedule, so we don’t understand Mr. Ecclestone’s comments.”
Ecclestone tells the Press Association that the 2012 United States Grand Prix will be dropped “for sure, 100 percent” before the World Motorpsort Council meets Dec. 7. He also says Hellmund’s contract has been canceled after being in breach.
The Independent says Ecclestone has offered circuit organizers a contract to host races for 10 years beginning in 2013. Sexton issues a statement, saying, “2013 certainly allows time for the Circuit of the Americas to be ready.”
Hellmund holds a press conference in which he puts the odds of the race happening at better than 50-50. He also says the project has been under-funded and behind schedule for months and that he is negotiating his exit from the partnership.
Calling a contract presented to them two weeks earlier “unrealistic and unfeasible,” circuit investors say they’ve presented Ecclestone with a contract “similar to what we anticipated receiving.” They also say they are ready to pay a sanctioning fee.
The World Motor Sport Council meets in New Delhi, where the 2012 race calendar will be officially ratified.
While F1 races can be dropped after that date because of problems ranging from construction delays to civil unrest in the host country, races would not be added to the schedule.
Statesman.com
