Ecclestone Pursuing Second US Race in F1

A while back, Bernie Ecclestone announced that he has finally secured the site, government funding and a promoter for the next US Grand Prix, due to go under way on a soon-to-be-built track in Austin, Texas starting 2012. Then, less than a week ago, some media reports suggested that the F1 boss doubts the Americans will get things right in time and threatened that “we've got some penalty clauses, although I wouldn't want to use them.”

Just to let people know that he means business, the 79-year old Englishman seems to have already told his circuit designer Hermann Tilke to look for an alternative site for the American race.

“Tilke is in New Jersey now looking into it,” said Ecclestone, according to ESPN F1.

A few months ago, before the Texas solution, Ecclestone intensively pursued a New Jersey site for an F1 race, as he wanted it “in front of Manhattan in New Jersey, with the skyscrapers in the background.” However, once a location has been found to perfectly fit those “requirements”, in Liberty State Park, the local community vetoed for environmental issues.

However, the F1 supremo did not drop the idea and is now pursuing another location that would ensure a great background in the eventuality of a race. Of course, Tilke would have to make sure the environmentalists will not set up the same opposition as in Liberty State Park.

Even if Ecclestone will find a new location, that isn't to mean the Austin track would be abandoned, as the Englishman has already signed an agreement with Full Throttle Productions for a 10-year period of time. Also, the project benefits from governmental support, meaning the New Jersey site, if secured, will only become either a second US race, or a reserve for the already existing one.