Tilke pushing ahead with Austin F1 track

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(GMM) Officials of Hermann Tilke's German company are beginning to arrive in Austin to begin work at the site of the 2012 United States grand prix.

The formula one circuit design company Tilke GmbH already has geologists testing he 900-acre plot of land and is about to open a local office for 20 staff, according to a report in the local American-Statesman.

"There is land, there is money, there is a formula one contract. We are now ready to enter the final stage of the ambitious project," said Tilke's US executive Christian Epp.

He said the actual track layout is essentially complete, but that questions about the auxiliary buildings are still being answered.

"We have to figure how many buildings and access roads are needed, how in detail to manage the water supply, drainage and power," said Epp. "It's like planning and building a complete new city."

He said a Tilke delegation will be in Austin next week to continue working on the reportedly $200 million plans, with actual construction to begin in December.

"The engineers and the contractors tell me it can be built by summer 2012," said the race organizers' lawyer Richard Suttle Jr.