450 workers are pushing to enable Austin’s new Circuit of the Americas to be ready for the US grand prix later this year.
After the Texas project’s earlier hiccups, the rooves and walls of the paddock and medical buildings, media centre and main grandstand are now taking shape.

Another recent setback, however, was 2 inches of rain in the last ten days.

“We’ve got a lot of dry weather we know is going to be coming, and are hoping to be gaining some time,” said a contractor spokesman.

He revealed that the first layer of track asphalt will be poured around April “so we can get other elements, the tire barriers (and) the FIA fence going on”, he told the local Austin American Statesman.

The report said construction is scheduled to be essentially completed two months before the November 18 race.

Organisers of this weekend’s inaugural Korean grand prix have scattered cement dust in places around the new Yeongam layout, as the newly-laid asphalt surface continues to seep oil as it cures.

But Karun Chandhok – the only man to have completed a lap of the 5.62km layout in a formula one car – insists the circuit will be safe enough to host the race.

“I don’t think for one second that it will be disastrous,” the Indian driver told the Telegraph.  “A lot of the rumours have been inaccurate.”

In its official event preview, the Italian team Toro Rosso also urged the F1 world not to “panic” as it makes the long trek from Europe to the Jeollanam-do province.

There are concerns about the incomplete track facilities, food, hotels, access roads, organised crime in the local area and the proximity to the rogue North Korea.

“Our advice to you is don’t panic and make the most of the experience,” said the team.

But Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi is hoping the experience is not just enjoyed by F1.

“The key question will be if the people know enough about formula one to want to attend the race,” said the Swiss.

One piece of good news from the nearby port city Mokpo, about 400 kilometres south of the capital Seoul, is that three days of mostly dry weather is being forecast.

But the sport’s travelling circus is still bracing for a difficult event.  To start, Williams team manager Dickie Stanford has told his troops to be ready for a seven-hour bus ride from the capital to Yeongam.

“From a driver’s perspective the most important thing is that the tarmac lasts,” said Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld.

Nico Rosberg also said he hopes “the asphalt holds up”, and reigning world champion Jenson Button admitted he expects “a few unexpected issues” in Korea.

But 2010 points leader Mark Webber is sanguine.

“We all have to go there, see the track and get on with the job — it’s the same for everyone,” said the Australian.

Pirelli will supply four different dry tyre compounds to formula one teams in 2011, the Italian company has announced.

It was confirmed by the FIA on Wednesday that Milan based Pirelli will succeed the departing Bridgestone as F1′s new supplier until 2013.

It had been expected that – unlike at present with Bridgestone offering super-soft, soft, medium and hard compounds – Pirelli’s compounds would number just three.

But Pirelli has confirmed that on offer in 2011 will be four dry weather tyres, plus a full wet tyre and an intermediate.

“Following current formula one regulations laid down by .. the FIA, the new contract ensures that Pirelli will provide teams with six different types of tyre for the season,” read a statement.

It is believed the reason the “current” rules are remaining unchanged is due to the long delay in the appointment of Bridgestone’s successor.

The F1 teams recently agreed to commence the designs of their 2011 cars on the basis of Bridgestone’s 2010-specification tyre.

Also postponed is the touted move from the current 13-inch wheels to a much lower profile.

But Pirelli said “research into innovative new tyre developments is a vital part of this exciting programme”.

The company will also supply GP2 and GP3.
(GMM)

After humid weather on Wednesday, today there were better conditions that allowed the racing cars to run through the day with dry tires.  Sebastien completed a good number of laps.  Let’s hope the rain forecast for tomorrow is wrong.  The agenda of the Toro Rosso team evaluated some aerodynamic components, tried out several of them and, as the rest of the teams, tested those set-ups with different fuel loads.

The Swiss pilot rolled out three components brought by Bridgestone –the super soft, soft and hard.

“I’m very happy with the last two days and, even though the rain is not an ideal condition, yesterday’s meant we could try out the rain tires,” said Sebastien Buemi.  “Today, we have been able to lap many times with dry weather, and the car is reliable.  We approached several topics and ran with diverse fuel loads, so we are starting to obtain a better understanding of STR5 overall.”

Finally, the FIA accepted the proposals made by FOTA and approved the changes to the Formula One World Championship scoring system.

According to FIA’s press release, and subsequent to the meeting that the Formula One Commission held on Monday, the winner of the Grand Prix will be awarded with 25 points, while the second and third places will receive 18 and 15 points, respectively.

The remaining points for the GPs will be allocated up to the tenth pilot that classifies, the following way: 12-10-8-6-4-2-1.  This is a modification to the model proposed by the organization last December with 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1.  Now, the FIA pretends to encourage the ‘run to win’ mentality.

Additionally, but for 2011, the FIA announces changes to the regulation regarding the diffusers.  The height of the main diffuser was reduced from  175mm to 125 mm, while the “magic” double diffusers –key element at the beginning of 2009, in the Brawn GP title-, will be finally excluded..

In addition to the change to the scoring system, each single-seater will only have 11 sets of dry weather tires available, instead of 14, and to encourage the teams to run through the practice sessions, ” a set must be returned before the start of Friday’s second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session.  FOTA’s last proposal has also been accepted: cars having participated in Q3 must start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set.

Things being like this, all these proposals have to be submitted before the World Motor Sport Council that has to finally give its approval, even though its just a step because this is already a fact.