Pook Says New Jersey Grand Prix Is “Absolutely” Still On For ’14 (Update)

UPDATE The promoter of the Grand Prix of America has confirmed a new long-term deal is now in place to hold a round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The agreement will see F1 go to New Jersey until at least 2029, starting from next year.

05/14/13

As street circuits go, the New Jersey layout is one of the best we have seen

F1 Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial, N.J. Special Assistant Chris Pook yesterday said that despite "considerable skepticism, the race 'absolutely' will happen next year and will be a boon to the United States Grand Prix rather than a drain" on the Austin event, according to John Maher of the Austin American Statesman.

Pook recently was "rumored to be part of an attempt to bring Formula One back to Long Beach, which now hosts an annual IndyCar race." But he said that he is "focused on New Jersey and was contacted by race organizers about two months ago."

Pook: "That's been in the cards for a long time. Three years ago I was over there at [F1 CEO Bernie] Ecclestone's request. I gave my opinion and kind of stepped back." He added, "It was a tad ambitious to put (the race) on this year’s schedule. … Once you take it off, it sows seeds of doubt." Pook said that New Jersey’s situation was "much like the one Austin organizers faced in the lead-up to the U.S. Grand Prix last November."

Pook: “Everybody doubts it until it happens. That’s the state of affairs." He added that German engineering firm Tilke GmbH, which designed Austin’s circuit, is "still the architect for the New Jersey project." Pook also said that there had been some "tweaks to the original plan" and that Hurricane Sandy damaged some infrastructure, but the race "will happen next year." Austin American Statesman