20/10/2010
NEWS STORY
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There is growing concern as to whether the Yeongam circuit is really fit to host a race this weekend.
Although it passed the FIA's inspection last week, there is widespread feeling that the process has been rushed through and that the event should have been postponed until next year.
While work on the "leisure themed corporate city" is not due to start until late next year, it is the state of the track, not to mention lack of facilities, that are causing concern.
Though Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA insist that all is well, tweets and newspaper comments from various F1 people paint a rather different picture.
Roger Benoit describes the circuit as an "enormous construction site" dominated by "excavators, debris and waste" in Blick, claiming that his hotel room is one of the ones usually rented by the hour.
"F1 in Seoul? Nah, let's have it in the middle of nowhere 100s of miles from anywhere," tweets photographer Darren Heath.
"Much remains to be done," admits Marc Surer in Speed Week, claiming that much of the grandstand seating is not complete. Referring to the actual trach he adds: "I am surprised that it is ready. Whether it can withstand hours of practice and racing, however, is another question."
While Williams turned down the accommodation on offer in favour of better facilities elsewhere that involve a three-hour round trip, Auto Motor und Sport reports that rollers are still being used on the track surface. "Only on Friday will we know whether the surface will withstand the stresses of formula one cars," says the German publication. "Everything on the site is under construction. Next to the pitlane is a large pile of sand. Whoever didn't know that F1 is running here in a few days would think it's not happening until next year."