Ecclestone now declare the Korean Grand Prix "is on"

Oct.09 (GMM) Following expressing worries regarding the opening event less than two weeks ago, Bernie Ecclestone now declare the Korean Grand Prix "is on". The FIA's Charlie Whiting is due to tour the Yeongam venue the day after Sunday's Japanese GP, but F1 chief executive Ecclestone said the circuit "will pass the inspection" and host the race in two weeks.

"They had problems but they have done wonders in the last few weeks," the Briton, who is not in Japan this weekend, is quoted by the Daily Express.

"I've been in touch; I've seen photographs and the top layer of the track has been laid. They will pass the inspection," added Ecclestone.

The newspaper report, however, said many of the circuit's buildings and spectator facilities will not be finished.

Ecclestone continued: "Despite all the doom stories, I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

"I will be there, the world will be watching and we will have a great race -- and it is on, end of story," he said.

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Korea to complete track day before FIA inspection

Oct.05 (GMM) The Korean new International racing circuit is almost complete, an official of the Yeongam venue has revealed. Rumor has dogged the opening event due to construction delays and an unusually late FIA inspection scheduled for the day after Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix -- just 11 days prior to opening practice in Korea.

But race organiser KAVO's communication boss Kim Jae-ho has revealed to the Korea Times newspaper that construction "is now 98 to 99 per cent complete". The last crucial element is the top layer of surface asphalt, with other less important things likely to go unfinished.

"The inspection team may put first priority on safety and appropriateness of the race track ahead of other factors such as cleanliness and makeshift stands," Kim admitted.

Work on the final surface layer began on Tuesday and will take six days -- exactly the time available until Charlie Whiting arrives at the venue direct from Suzuka.

"Before the inspection the only thing left to do is working on the surface of the track," Kim confirmed.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said two weeks ago that allowing Korea to miss its original inspection date is "quite dangerous", but the newspaper report said some other circuits have been in the same situation.

"We also tried to keep the date," Kim explained.

"For us, the toughest factor was weather. It rained too much. It was totally different from past seasons.

"Frankly speaking, we (Korea) have little experience in building race tracks. However, despite the postponed construction, the track and venue will provide the perfect circumstances for the race," he promised.

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Korea: Circuit will be finished before inspection

Organisers of the upcoming inaugural Korean Grand Prix have told GPUpdate.net that the circuit will be completed by the time of its final FIA inspection on Monday 11 October. The response follows worries expressed by Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone in Singapore on Sunday.

With Ecclestone having claimed that there are ‘dangerous concerns’ over the Yeongam race which is scheduled for the weekend of 23-24 October, its final FIA examination has been delayed although Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) is confident that its results will prove positive.


“KAVO heard Mr. Ecclestone's comments in the news and we recognise that he worries about the completion of circuit more than we thought,” a KAVO spokesperson explained to GPUpdate.net on Thursday afternoon.

“However, the circuit will be finished before the inspection.

"The remaining operations ahead of the FIA inspection are the final coating and cleaning of the surface.”

Source: GPUpdate.net


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Korea GP: I don't take a lot of notice of rumours - Ecclestone

Sept.26 (GMM) President and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday insisted next month's Korean GP will go ahead.
It has emerged that despite September 21 being the initially belated date for the Yeongam circuit's final inspection; the FIA is not now expected to sign off the track until next week or even later. A South Korean delegation is in Singapore this weekend, triggering the latest round of paddock rumours about whether the race will take place -- including talk of a looming typhoon.

"We're happy with the circuit at the moment," F1 chief executive Ecclestone told the Korea Herald newspaper from Singapore.

He played down the rumours that the track will not be ready.

"I don't take a lot of notice of rumours," said the Briton, explaining the reasons for the delayed inspection.

"We waited for an obvious reason, because the weather's been bad. The federation (FIA) seems very happy with what's happened, with everything that will happen," he added.

Ecclestone also denied suggestions that FIA rules will prevent Korea from holding a race in 2011 if the inspection does not go well.

"We signed a contract," he said. "I can't discuss this (outcome), because it's going to happen."

Ecclestone admitted that he does not expect a big crowd for October's inaugural event.

"People are reading complete rubbish in papers that it is not going to happen, so I don't estimate a big, big crowd," explained the 79-year-old.

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FIA to inspect Korea after final asphalt laid

September 21, touted as the belated final inspection date for Korea's new F1 circuit
, passed without notice.

That's because it has been agreed with the struggling race organisers that the inspection can take place next week instead, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Charlie Whiting's inspection will now take place next Tuesday, despite the FIA rules requiring circuits to be given the green light several months before their debut race date.

But according to the German media report, it is only next week that the final layer of asphalt will be laid on the surface of the Yeongam layout.

Also to be inspected by Whiting will be the run-off areas, fences, walls and tyre barriers; crucial details those mere days ago were essentially incomplete.

Auto Motor und Sport said that, from a commercial point of view, the organisers have fully paid their race sanctioning fee.

"I believe it (the Korean circuit) will eventually be signed off because Bernie (Ecclestone) is desperate for it to be signed off.

"But it's not great PR for the circuit or the FIA," said Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary.

Source:motorsport.com

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The Korean GP launches F1 Race tickets sales

(GMM) The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) has started selling tickets ahead of the opening Korean Grand Prix this October. By launching the final trio of races, the event could play a vital role towards the outcome of this year's World Championship. Following Grands Prix in Malaysia, China, Singapore and Japan, South Korea will host the fifth and last Asian race of the 19-race 2010 season at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam.

Tickets prices will range from 117,000 won (£68) to 920,000 won (£537) minus tax at the track which will hold a capacity 123,000 crowd. Those who make ticket purchases before the end of April can expect a discount in the region of 10 percent.

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Korea boss Jason Cho says track 'must' be ready for Formula 1

Sept.15 (GMM) The Korea's F1 track manager Jason Cho admits time is running out for the Yeongam venue to be ready for its opening race next month. In a talk with the Associated Press, Jason Cho was asked if - mere days ahead of the crucial inspection by the governing FIA - he is feeling stressed.

"Just look at my face," he smiled. Organisers KAVO had already been given an inspection deadline extension from July to September 21, and the latest rumour is that the FIA has granted yet another extension to 28 September.

That is just over three weeks before the inaugural race on October 24.

"It will be ready, it's a must," said Cho. "If we don't finish then we don't have an event so it will be done in ten days."

Officials say the delays have been caused by bad weather, and KAVO's deputy marketing manager peter Baek is also confident the track can be completed in time.

"Europeans have a set schedule and want to keep to the schedule
as actively as possible but Koreans always get things done," he said.

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FIA delays Korean GP Circuit inspection

Sept.15 (GMM) The Formula 1 governing body FIA will not undertake a last checking of the Korean International Circuit awaiting on September 28, less than four weeks before the scheduled grand prix on October 24. It was planned Charlie Whiting would visit on September 21, breaking his journey to the Singapore Grand Prix, but it is claimed that has put back a week because of local holidays. The FIA's own regulations state such an inspection should take place 90 days before the race.

Local organisers are not worried as they believe whatever the outcome of the inspection the grand prix will go ahead as planned. There are too many logistical headaches with teams, travel and the media to countenance a last-minute change of plans.

"The FIA has been receiving weekly updates from its inspector in Korea and the construction company with regard to the track and its safety installations," an FIA spokesman said recently. "The FIA is satisfied with the progress even though a lot of work remains to be completed."

Bernie Ecclestone added: "There are problems but we assume that the race can take place … the circuit is definitely ready, but as for all the buildings, perhaps not."

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Chandhok drives a Red Bull on the Korean International Circuit - Pictures

Images © Press Association



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Korean F1 GP Track Latest Photos

Click On Photos & Enlarge

Korean International Circuit – Race Control Building

Korean International Circuit – Pit Building

Korean International Circuit – Grandstand

Korean International Circuit – Media Center

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Hermann Tilke insists Korea 'will be ready' for Race

Aug.30 (GMM) Hermann Tilke on Sunday backed information’s that Korea will be ready to host its inaugural Formula One race in October. Earlier at Spa-Francorchamps, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone played down the rumours about lagging construction at Yeongam, as photos depicting asphalt finally being laid did the rounds in the paddock.

"Korea will be ready," F1's regular track architect Tilke is quoted by Williams' official website.

"I've read some negative stories in the press and I can tell you that we'll be there on 24 October. The weather has delayed construction a bit, but we're on schedule to get everything finished on time," added the German.

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South Korea International Circuit Logo

Aug.08 (GMM) Regardless of the doubts we hear in the news media on the readiness of the Korean circuit for the race in the fall, or perhaps because of these doubts, the circuit keeps on making announcements that lead us to believe it will be ready to race by the late October date. This week the Korea International Circuit announced the logo for the event.

It calls it “an eloquent combination of national tradition and high-octane excitement.” The design is inspired by the Korean flag, or ‘Taegeukgi,’ and incorporates the racing symbol of the checkered flag.

“The ‘Taegeukgi’ incorporates the four Taoist philosophical ideals of harmony, symmetry, balance and flow, and its swirling treatment on the KIC emblem depicts both the energy of motorsport and the flow of the circuit,” the circuit said in a statement.

“The Yin and Yang elements of the Taegeukgi represent perfect balance and give our emblem a local aesthetic, while the modern design reflects our technologically-advanced new motorsport facility, the only one of its kind in the country and set to become the heart of the sport in South Korea,” said Yung Cho Chung, the circuit chief executive.

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Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix Circuit Info

New Korean International Circuit has been designed by German architect Hermann Tilke. The track is to be establishing in the South Jeolla region, 350 kilometers south of the Korean capital, Seoul. Once finished the circuit will be 5.621 km in length, and will be made up of both permanent and temporary sections. There will be seating for up to 130,000 spectators.

The organisers of the Korean Grand Prix have admitted that finding hotel accommodation for the visitors to the race will not be easy in its debut year.

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South Korea says FIA happy with development

Jul.22 (GMM) Regardless reports that Korea may seek a year's delay of its inaugural Grand Prix, scheduled for October 2010, the managing Korean Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) says that a recent site visit by FIA F1 race director and safety delegate, Charlie Whiting, was a success. Whiting visited the 5.615km Korean International Circuit - designed by Herman Tilke and scheduled for August completion - last week.

Whiting examined the facilities including the completed race control tower, main grandstand and pit garages as well as the 5.615km track layout and was briefed on the construction schedule, after which he expressed satisfaction with progress. The next inspection is scheduled for the end of August.

Korean Automobile Racing Association chairman Yung Cho Chung said: "Last week KARA and KAVO welcomed Charlie Whiting for a site inspection, as well as for meetings relating to our preparation. As anticipated we had a successful visit and are confident the drivers, teams and fans will enjoy the Korea International Circuit."

The circuit has been built to incorporate local elements, such as the roof of the 16,000 seat main grandstand resembling the eaves of traditional 'Hanok' houses. The circuit will have a capacity of 130,000.

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Korean Grand Prix construction still on schedule

The organisers of the opening Korean Grand Prix have dismissed rumours that the event could be delayed until 2011. This was reported in autosport in late February. Supporter Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) said that the track in Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, was now 66 per cent complete, and would be fully finished in June or July. Its first Formula 1 race is scheduled for 24 October this year.

“The representative facilities of the circuit are in very good progress,” said KAVO CEO Yung Cho Chung.

“The racing track itself is at 70 per cent completion rate and the main grandstand currently stands at 80 per cent.

“The Formula 1 track is now visible. It may be completed in June at the earliest.”

The 3.493-mile Korea International Circuit will be the country’s first FIA approved international racetrack.

KAVO said it was focusing its efforts on ensuring that the facilities that will be used for F1 were ready first, as the venue will also feature a layout for use by other championships.

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Korean F1 Grand Prix track preview

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