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Ecclestone doubts over inaugural Korean GP

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says track inspections should take place three months before a race.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says track inspections should take place three months before a race.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Yeongam track yet to pass final inspection by world governing body, the FIA
  • Ecclestone: It should have been inspected six weeks ago
  • Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) remain confident race will go ahead

(CNN) -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has voiced his concern over whether next month's inaugural Korean Grand Prix will go ahead.

The race -- to be staged on October 24 at the brand-new Yeongam track 390 kilometers (240 miles) south of South Korean capital, Seoul -- has yet to pass a final safety inspection by motorsport's world governing body, the FIA.

An initial inspection was planned for September 21, but this was later canceled because of a public holiday in South Korea. A new date has been set for October 11.

"It's not good. It should have been inspected six weeks ago," Ecclestone told the BBC after Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix.

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"We normally have a 90-day check before a race, and now we are sort of putting this off," he added.

"What we've done is quite dangerous. It's a question of do we cancel the race or not? They say everything will be OK -- we have to hope they're right."

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However, race organizers remain confident the race will go ahead as planned.

We normally have a 90-day check before a race, and now we are sort of putting this off
--Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One boss
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"We will have no problem in hosting the race on October 24 as we have almost completed work" on the 5.6-kilometer track, Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) spokesman Kim Jae-Ho told Agence France-Presse.

"We will rush to complete work, and FIA officials will see a complete circuit when they conduct a final inspection in two weeks," Kim added.

The FIA refused to comment on the matter when contacted by CNN.

Meanwhile, Red Bull's Mark Webber remained at the top of the F1 world championship standings despite Fernando Alonso's victory for Ferrari in Singapore.

The Australian could only manage third place after surviving a collision with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, with team-mate Sebastian Vettel finishing second behind the rejuvenated Alonso.

The action resumes again in Japan on October 10 before moving to South Korea, then to Brazil and Abu Dhabi for the final race of an exciting season.