Formula 1 commercial manager Bernie Ecclestone is considering plans for a second race in the United States, after confirming on Thursday that talks are ongoing about an event in New York.
Although Ecclestone has already signed a deal for the USGP to return in 2012 at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, that has not stopped him looking at other opportunities in the country. Despite plans for a race in Liberty State Park falling through earlier this year, Ecclestone has said that another idea for an event in New York is being seriously considered.
"It's happening," he told AUTOSPORT. "We are talking to them and trying to do our best. Let's see what happens."
When asked how sure he was that the Texas race would go ahead, amid skepticism from some quarters about whether the funding exists for the event, Ecclestone said: "100 percent."
Ecclestone has also played down the prospects of Spain's second race moving from Valencia to Mallorca in the next few years. He met with representatives of a new Mallorca track at the recent European Grand Prix, but has said there was no ongoing plan to change venues.
"There is no discussion for that," he said.