The Korean Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled, according to the general manager for marketing at KAVO, the company behind the race.
Kim Jae-Ho confirmed that the circuit was nearing completion, with just a final layer of asphalt to be laid and cured, a process which began earlier this week.
“The construction of the venue is now 98 to 99 percent complete,” Jae-Ho told the Korea Times.
“Before the inspection the only thing left to do is working on the surface of the track. The inspection teams first priority is safety and appropriateness of the racetrack ahead of other factors such as cleanliness and makeshift stands.”
That inspection has been continually delayed. Whilst track inspections often take place between ten and six weeks before the inaugural event, the Korean inspection will happen just a handful of days prior to the teams arrival.
Jae-Ho explained the reasons behind the delayed inspection dates.
“When F1 Race Director and Safety Delegate Charlie Whiting came to Korea in July, we received permission to postpone the inspection. Instead we had to submit a daily report to the FIA.
“At the time the FIA designated Sept. 22 as the final inspection date but we realised later that it fell on one of Korea’s biggest traditional holidays, Chuseok.
“As the FIA officials would likely be stuck in traffic during the holiday, we explained the situation and FIA replied that they would consider changing the date to early October and recently notified us of the amended date,” Kim said.
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