F1: Austin hits back at Ecclestone pessimism

By Auto123.com,

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Adapted from GMM

The Circuit of the Americas has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone's claim that Texas might fall off the 2012 calendar.

"Austin? I wouldn't want to put my money down that that will happen," the F1 chief executive said in Abu Dhabi.

Ecclestone referred to apparent differences within the event's organizational bodies, but Circuit of the Americas president Steve Sexton said he was confused by the 81-year-old's comments.

"There is no question that if he wants the USGP race to happen here in 2012, it certainly will," he said in a statement published by the local Austin American Statesman.

"Our funding is secured, and construction is on schedule, so we don't understand Mr Ecclestone's comments. He has expressed great interest in the Austin race and in expanding the F1 brand into the United States."

Topics: bernie ecclestone, circuit of the americas, racing