LONDON – Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone has raised doubts over whether the inaugural Grand Prix of America, to be held in New Jersey next year will go ahead. British newspaper The Guardian quoted Ecclestone Tuesday as saying that organizers “have not complied with the terms and conditions of the contract which is now gone anyway. They don't have a contract”. 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. 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. The race has been given provisional status on the calendar for the 2013 season which will be discussed at the World Motor Sports Council Friday. “We are pretty close to the final deadline,” Ecclestone told the Guardian, “We have got 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. Meanwhile, this year's race in the States, the new US Grand Prix at the ‘Circuit of the Americas' track in Austin has been given the all-clear by the Formula One's governing body, ahead of November's race. — Reuters
