Official: No Grand Prix in New York in 2013
The promoters of the Grand Prix of America, scheduled in New Jersey for June 2013, have officially postponed the North American event to 2014. However, promoter Leo Hindery Jr and Bernie Ecclestone assert that they are committed to ensuring the Grand Prix, held with Manhattan's buildings as a backdrop, takes place successfully in 2014.
After the mayor of Weehawken, one of the two New Jersey towns set to host the Grand Prix of America, mentioned the possibility of postponing the Grand Prix to 2014, and following Bernie Ecclestone’s statements to Eurosport-Yahoo confirming it wouldn’t take place next year, the promoters of the Grand Prix of America have officially postponed the event to 2014: “There will be a race at Port Imperial, but unfortunately not as soon as we had hoped and wished,” said promoter Leo Hindery Jr., in a statement. “We promised the Governor [of New Jersey], the towns [of Weehawken and West New York], the sport, and its fans the best possible experience, and unfortunately we need more time to ensure that is the case.”
Leo Hindery Jr insists, however, that the race remains current: « We remain 100% committed to the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial, and the race couldn’t have a better partner and friend than Bernie Ecclestone. We greatly benefit from his experience, advice, and support. »
For his part, the great financier of Formula 1 assures that he too remains completely devoted to the Grand Prix of America in Port Imperial as well as to its location and unique attributes: We will continue to work closely to realize our dream in 2014. As Leo said, we will indeed race at Port Imperial, even if we have to wait until 2014.
The promoters of the Grand Prix d’Amérique will thus have an additional year to finalize their project, both financially and in terms of infrastructure. However, the statement asserts that the Grand Prix d’Amérique and Formula 1 have highlighted that significant progress has been made in the race’s development, which includes: substantial advancement in the construction of the first garages and other facilities, major engineering work on the track and operations planning, recruitment of senior executives, and partnerships with key suppliers for managing hospitality, security, ticket sales, transport planning, and operations.
The Grand Prix d’Amérique thus leaves a three-week gap between the Canadian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix, according to the calendar unveiled a few weeks ago, which raises the possibility of a potential return of a Grand Prix on French soil, at Le Castellet, or even allowing Turkey to reclaim its place in the calendar, while the Istanbul Park seems to interest Bernie Ecclestone.
