A spokesman has confirmed reports that aspects of Korea’s new formula one track are not completed.

The FIA’s Charlie Whiting this week approved the Yeongam venue ahead of the inaugural race in less than a fortnight.

But media reports have indicated that safety requirements and the asphalt aside, the entire venue is not finished.

“Landscaping work to the surrounding area and parking lots still remains to be done,” a spokesman for organisers KAVO told the Korea Herald.

“But we are finalising last-minute touches and can be ready on schedule,” he added.

After the weekend’s Japanese grand prix, the F1 teams’ equipment and cars are already en route to the facility 320 kilometres south of Seoul.

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko admitted the team is slightly worried about the layout, with the curvier sections punctuated by straights not suitable to the RB6′s Renault engine.

“One of them is the longest straight on the calendar,” he groaned, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

Nico Rosberg, however, expressed concerns that the crucial top layer of track has only just been laid.

“The only concern is the new asphalt,” the Mercedes driver is quoted by Welt newspaper.

The media report recalled June 1985, when the Belgian GP at Spa had to be postponed for months because the new asphalt surface disintegrated.

Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday sounded defiant amid reports Korea is not ready to welcome formula one.

Yeongam, about a four hour drive from Seoul, is scheduled to host its inaugural grand prix late next month.

Karun Chandhok did the first demonstration laps of the track on Saturday in a Red Bull, admitting that the venue is not yet complete.

Photos showed some buildings and grandstands are half built, fences missing, run-off areas unpaved and the track with only an initial layer of asphalt.

“How can a grand prix take place here?” wondered the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, captioning a photo of a construction worker carrying materials against the backdrop of a half-built building.

The newspaper said even a full supply of water and electricity is not yet present.

Additionally, many seats in the main grandstand are not installed, while parking lots are not ready to accommodate cars.

“There are problems,” admitted F1 chief executive Ecclestone, “but we assume that the race can take place.

“The circuit is definitely ready, but as for all the buildings, perhaps not,” admitted the Briton.

“So we may have to put up some tents,” Ecclestone joked.