Formula 1 track designer Hermann Tilke says that construction work at the new Circuit of the Americas track in Texas is on schedule, and he dismissed suggestions that building work was running late.
Speculation about the United States Grand Prix venue surfaced in India last weekend when sources revealed that commercial manager Bernie Ecclestone had told teams there were some questions marks about it hosting the race in 2012.
Although Ecclestone later revealed that his fears were based more on issues inside the promotional company than on the track being ready in time, that did not stop questions about the building progress. However, with the Austin venue getting the go-ahead from local officials to begin construction work on the five major buildings, including the main grandstands and pit buildings, Tilke made it clear he is happy with progress.
"We are working on it," he insisted. "There are a couple of hundred workers on the site, a lot of machines, and everything is on schedule up to now."
Tilke is excited about the potential of the layout of the Austin track, which he believes will benefit from the kind of gradients that made the new Buddh track in India such a hit last weekend.
"In Austin, we have had the advantage that we have some natural elevation and some hills which we could use," he explained. "It is going to be very fast."
As well as working on the new Austin track, which is due to hold its inaugural grand prix next November, Tilke is also helping out with the New Jersey GP venue that will be added to the schedule in 2013. Although he is limited in design scope there, because it is a city street circuit, he believes the layout will be good for F1.
"It is a pure road track, a street circuit," he said. "We will have to take what is there, but it will be really fantastic."