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Clock Ticking on Austin F1 Race

The Circuit of the Americas race course under construction in Southeast Travis County may not see a F1 race until at least 2013, according to the race organization's president.
Image courtesy of the Circuit of the Americas
The Circuit of the Americas race course under construction in Southeast Travis County may not see a F1 race until at least 2013, according to the race organization's president.

A Formula 1 auto race in Austin next year seems increasingly unlikely.

The Associated Press quotes F1 president Bernie Ecclestone as saying organizers of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin don't have the money to stage the race set for November 18, 2012. Race organizers have until November 27 to show they have enough money, or the race will be scratched from the 2012 schedule.

Track president Steve Sexton released a statement via email this afternoon, saying a delay wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

“We have been excited for and working towards a 2012 USGP race and now understand that Mr. Ecclestone is interested in moving the Austin race to 2013. We know the U.S. market is important to the teams and their sponsors and 2013 certainly allows time for the Circuit of The Americas to be ready.”  

Ecclestone scrapped a deal with Austin-based Full Throttle Productions to stage the race, citing breach of contract. F1 then started negotiations with the group building the race track.

Ian Crawford joined KUT as News Editor in 2008, after spending over four years as a reporter/anchor at KLBJ Radio in Austin. He began his broadcasting career while still in high school in Southern Oregon. During high school and college at the University of Oregon, he worked at times as a reporter, news anchor, sports play-by-play reporter, music host and commercial producer before moving to Texas in 2003.
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