Ecclestone Denies Delay Reports on Korean GP

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone dismissed the rumors regarding a potential delay of the 2010 Korean Grand Prix due to lateness in building the track. A few reports that appeared in the German magazine Focus last week suggested that the circuit may not be built in due time so it can host its 2010 round, scheduled for late October.

Additionally, Ecclestone himself was then quoted as expressing fears about the South Korean race, while the designer of the track Hermann Tilke allegedly said that he couldn't guarantee the completion of the Yeongam complex – some 400 km outside Seoul – until the initially estimated date.

Asked by the Reuters news agency if the South Korean GP is still on schedule, following local promoters Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) denying the initial German reports, Ecclestone answered “I'm absolutely sure. There's no doubt at all.”

Additionally, he insisted having already talked to Tilke on the topic and revealed: “I've spoken to Tilke and he denies saying it.”

“The construction progress is well ahead of its schedule and we have absolutely no issues with completion. I understand that Mr Ecclestone is quite happy with not only the progress of the track but the direction the Korean F1 race is headed and he has raised no questions and concerns,” said KAVO's Chung Yung-Cho earlier this week, according to the BBC.

As for Ecclestone's future plans of extending the F1 calendar to 20+ races in the near future, the 79-year old Brit admitted the Russian city of Sochi - also to host the 2014 Winter Olympics - is in pole position of securing an F1 deal in the next few years.