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Ecclestone: No concerns over Indian GP

Bernie Ecclestone is certain the inaugural Indian Grand Prix will run without a hitch late this month.

There have been concerns the Buddh circuit is not complete, that teams and drivers will be heavily taxed, and that angry local farmers as well as regional terrorists may pose security threats.

“I don’t think we can see anywhere in the world where there isn’t a bit of uncertainty these days,” the sport’s chief executive told the Deccan Herald newspaper.

“I don’t think there is the slightest bit of concern, though.”

On the tax issue, Ecclestone admitted: “I don’t think people have understood the structure. People haven’t quite understood the right way to go about it. It’s all pretty clear, there is no real problem.”

And he dismissed suggestions the Buddh circuit will not be ready to host the F1 world in a few weeks.

“Some super reports are coming in,” insisted the 80-year-old. “People are all there and they are doing a fabulous job.

“All these new events are really a learning curve. We are making good progress on the track, and even if we had come in 2012, we would have been in the same position.”

Race organisers Jaypee, meanwhile, dismissed the latest reports about local farmers threatening “protest marches and sit-ins” around the track if they do not receive better compensation.

“People should not be taking these threats seriously,” an unnamed official told the AFP news agency.

“We have spent $400 million dollars and we will spend a few million more if needed to have adequate security in place. We will do whatever it takes to have a wonderful event.”

Source:GMM

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