• Indian Grand Prix

Delhi will be ready for Indian GP insist officials

ESPNF1 Staff
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A general view of work at the site for the inaugural 2011 Indian Grand Prix near New Delhi © Getty Images
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Organisers of the new Indian Grand Prix, which is due to take place in October, have denied the venue could struggle to be ready for its inaugural race.

The 5.1 kilometre Jaypee Group Circuit is currently under construction on 100 acres of land in the Uttar Pradesh state. Organisers had earmarked a mid-year completion date, but some recent visitors to the site have expressed fears the venue is far from ready.

But Dr Walter Kafitz told Speed Week that the grand prix will take place as scheduled on 30 October. Kafitz, at Sepang to oversee an Indian delegation, is now working on the Delhi project after 15 years as head of the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

He said the track will be more than ready for Formula One, despite fears of a repeat of Delhi's controversial hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"It is a wonderful circuit for spectators as well as for the drivers," said Kafitz, adding rumours of construction delays are not true. "There will be no South Korea-type situation with us," he said in a reference to the calamitous preparations for last year's inaugural grand prix in Yeongam.

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