Difficulties for the GPs of India, USA and Greece

Not everything is going smoothly at the venues that are scheduled to host a Formula 1 GP in the future. Starting from India, even though the New Delhi circuit is, according to witnesses, now ready, there have been clashes in the surrounding area, ending with some deaths.

The farmers of the villages living near the route are angry for various reasons: first of all they consider the reimbursement obtained from the government in exchange for their land to be inadequate, and now they are threatening to disturb the race and the preparations. Furthermore, they are angry because access to a temple has been blocked: “When all our requests end up against deaf ears, we have no choice but to go to court,” declared a local magistrate. “Shocking religious feelings can lead to very unpleasant consequences,” writes the Hindustan Times.
The state government has therefore increased vigilance and police presence around the track, which will be ready for FIA homologation in July.
Track director Sameer Gaur replied: “We are talking to the people concerned, and we are confident that a solution will be found.”
Not all is going to plan in Texas either, where the state government will spend $25 million each year to support the Austin GP scene.
Dan Patrick, a Republican senator, said the money should instead be found through private resources.
While in Great Britain there is controversy following the news that Greece is planning to build a track partially financed by the state.
For the Greek economy there is a 110 billion euro bailout plan, to which British citizens have also contributed.
Winston McKenzie, spokesman for the British Independent Party, said: “We will not pay a single penny as long as this kind of irresponsible spending continues.”

Filippo Ronchetti