Sky Sports F1 learns payment made to allow race to be staged
Tuesday 10 February 2015 08:17, UK
Sky Sports F1 has learnt that New Jersey will be on the 2014 calendar when it is ratified by next week's meeting of the FIA World Council.
The long-mooted event, which was originally scheduled to take place this season, was a noticeable absentee when a draft 2014 calendar was released earlier this month at Monza.
However, the veracity of the leaked calendar was subsequently cast into doubt by Bernie Ecclestone, with the F1 supremo telling Sky Sports F1: "We have a contract with New Jersey and I hope they can honour the contract."
It's understand that race organisers of the event, which is set to feature New York as its backdrop, have passed a series of procedural deadlines, and the race is poised to be fixed onto next year's calendar.
If approved, the event is set to be staged back-to-back with the Canadian GP.
"I've spoken to Bernie Ecclestone and we understand that a payment has been made yesterday to allow the New Jersey to take place potentially just before or after the Canadian GP next year," Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz reported.
"So it looks like much better news for the New Jersey GP - with New York as the skyline which will be great. I've spoken to Bernie, he said 'yes, but I would still be surprised as they have a lot of work to do,' but it is looking better for New Jersey for next year."
