Austin Pay Bernie’s Sanctioning Fee

Organizers for next years American Grand Prix at the Austin track in Texas have announced they have paid Bernie Ecclestone’s sanctioning fee, meaning that construction of the track can now resume and that the race will remain on the calendar for next season.

The Circuit of the Americas had been issued another deadline by Bernie after failing to pay the sanctioning fee by the original date. The construction therefore stopped and it became unclear as to whether the inaugural race in Texas was still on with Bernie himself casting huge doubts over whether the race would be run in 2012. 

With the announcement earlier in the year that there would be another American Grand Prix held in New Jersey in 2013, the organizers at the Circuit of the Americas believed interest with the Austin event had faded away, with Bernie canceling talks with the original sponsors Full Throttle Promotions. 

However after many ups and downs and various uncertainties, organizers are now highly confident that the event will take place next year as it prepares to host the penultimate race weekend of the 2012 season.

Hopefully now the organizers can focus on constructing a top class venue to challenge the likes of Abu Dhabi and not end up like Korea with parts of the track still being completed during the inaugural weekend.

With the FIA confirming the 2012 calendar today at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in India, it not only means F1 will return to America in 2012, but that it will also return to Bahrain as well. Whether this remains the case throughout the winter months remains to be seen.