Ecclestone admits doubts over South Korean race

The race has been surrounded by doubts for months, although organisers were adamant the circuit would be ready in time for next month's race.

The inaugural Korean GP is scheduled for October 24, and an FIA inspection was expected on September 21, but that has been delayed.

Korean officials attended the Singapore GP to hold talks about scheduling a new FIA inspection.

Ecclestone admitted there will be concerns until the race takes place.

"Until it's on there's always concerns obviously," Ecclestone told The Associated Press. "We have to get lucky and hope it will happen."

Speaking with the BBC, he added: "Well, it's not good. It should have been inspected maybe six weeks ago, which it was inspected but it wasn't passed. We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off.

"It's quite dangerous what we've done actually, but I mean it's a case of 'do we cancel the race or not?' They say it is all going to be okay, so we hope they are right."

AUTOSPORT understands the inspection will now take place in the week after the Japanese GP, on October 11.

Indian driver Karun Chandhok completed a demo run of the circuit with a Red Bull car earlier this month.

SOURCE: Autosport

ED: 11 days before FP1 is meant to start in South Korea!?! This is ridiculous.

Isn't it 25 days not 11.

Under FIA regulations, the final inspection was meant to take place at the lastest 90 days before the event. If, for whatever reason, the South Korean GP doesn't go ahead, regulations also state that the event will be dropped for the following season too as punishment. If this is the case, South Korea may not even make it on to the F1 calendar until 2012.Redders1989

If korea does fail to make it then surely it would make sense to let the USGP take it's place rather than allowing the korean Gp back in and replacing a Race that didn't fail to make it's first race.

It would be a tad harsh to not allow the race next year. Really there needs to be fewer races in Europe as it dominates the calander but the Americas (North, Central, and South) really need more circuits and the African continent as there are no races in that region with the closest being Turkey I think?Garfield360UK

[QUOTE="Garfield360UK"]It would be a tad harsh to not allow the race next year. Really there needs to be fewer races in Europe as it dominates the calander but the Americas (North, Central, and South) really need more circuits and the African continent as there are no races in that region with the closest being Turkey I think?XSamFisherX

They have too many, this is a world championship after all, so bring it around the world and not just the select minority,

They have too many, this is a world championship after all, so bring it around the world and not just the select minority,Garfield360UK

Its because of that ***king CVC taking the 25% stake in Formula one, and them having to borrow so heavily to get it, meaning they need to make that money back somehow, and this is how we get the Grand Prixs where we are cus they are willing to pay good money to have that privalidge and why the European circuits are losing out.

There was a thread on it a while ago lol

[QUOTE="Garfield360UK"]They have too many, this is a world championship after all, so bring it around the world and not just the select minority,XSamFisherX

I am not sure why you are bringing drivers into it. The best driver for the team should be selected, regardless of what their passport or race or whatever.

I agree there are some fantastic circuits in Europe but then we get Valencia or others added that have not really got that special something that Monaco or Spa or A1 has. I mean why has South Africa not got a Grand Prix now? They have proved they can handle a big tournament with the World Cup this year and other sporting events like the 1995 Rugby World Cup showed the people there will follow sport.

So thats my argument, disagree if you will, I dont mind but please do not turn what I have said into something I have not :)