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Delay

New Jersey waves goodbye to Formula 1 race in 2013

The Weehawken track will not be ready, and it is now hoped that the inaugural race can take place in 2014.

NEXT YEAR’S NEW JERSEY Grand Prix will not go ahead, following some unforeseen construction delays at the Weehawken track.

It is hoped that the inaugural race will now take place in 2014.

Millions of dollars were spent planning how to transform 3.2 miles of the city streets on the waterfront of the Hudson River.

Foundation work was slated to start in the early autumn but nothing has happened yet, with no sign of the engineering permits needed to get things moving.

“It is not going to happen next year,” Formula 1′s commercial rights owner Bernie Ecclestone said.

“If they came up with the contract with us and we were satisfied the question is could they carry out the work in six months? Winter in New York is not good.

“There’s not a lot going on with New Jersey. They are still running around trying to get their finances sorted out. I think if suddenly they found the investors they would be okay. They are looking for investors.”

Richard Turner, the mayor of Weehawken, agreed with the assessment of the billionaire Englishman that a race in 2014 was more realistic.

“I think it makes more sense to me,” he acquiesced.

Ecclestone must now find a venue to replace New Jersey on the 2013 calendar, with a Mexican Grand Prix thought to be a possibility.

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