Bernie Ecclestone has given the thumbs up to the circuit which will host the inaugural Korean Grand Prix this weekend.

While work on the facilities continued, Ecclestone, speaking to reporters in the media centre, held up the new addition to the F1 calendar as an example to others.

"Considering what it was and what they've had to do - and it's not been easy to do this event - I think they've done a good job," said the Englishman. "It's all there," he continued. "If there hadn't have been all the bad weather then it would have been done a long time ago."

Asked if he was concerned at the prospect of cancelling the race - the track having only been officially approved by the FIA just over a week ago, he said: "I wasn't worried because I had some information from upstairs that they would get it done, and they've got it done. It would have been bad for Korea if it didn't happen, so they have made sure it happened.

Having warned earlier this week that as the calendar expands certain existing circuits may get the chop, he added: "I get really upset because when you look at these facilities, and you look at some of the places we go to and have been in the past, you can see what it took to build Formula One to what it is today."

While the track surface is finished it is work on the facilities that continues, with an army of people working around the clock - which is also unfinished.

Seats are still being fitted in the grandstands, rumble strips painted and drivers' names being fitted above the garages - even though the teams are already in place and prreparing their cars.

Speaking to Reuters, Chung Yung-cho, chief executive of Korea Auto Valley Operations and chairman of the Korea Automobile Racing Association, said he expected a big crowd for Sunday's race.

"On Sunday we hopefully fill it up but I think we have 100,000 people," he said. "I heard we had sold about 90,000 so far and about 50-60,000 on Saturday. We have not issued any standing tickets yet. We want to sell out the seats first."