- Associated Press - Saturday, November 12, 2011

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (AP) - Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone expressed doubts on Saturday over whether the 2012 U.S Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled in Austin, Texas.

Formula One was expected to return to the U.S. after a five-year absence. Indianapolis last hosted a race in 2007. Before that, Phoenix hosted three Grand Prix events from 1989 to 1991, while Watkins Glen in upstate New York hosted the F1 from 1961 to 1980.

Asked about the November race’s prospects, Ecclestone said: “I don’t know. We’re trying. It’s a bit of an uphill struggle there at the moment.

“There are two parties, one is building a track, the other has the contract and they’ve forgotten to talk to each other.”

Red McCombs, former owner of the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Vikings and one of the chief financial backers of the race in Austin, said last month the U.S. should be able to support two races after the five-year drought.

Ecclestone said there were “no problems” with the Grand Prix scheduled in New Jersey in 2013 and also said that next year’s Bahrain Grand Prix would definitely go ahead despite ongoing trouble in the country.

The World Motor Sport Council endorsed a calendar that schedules the Bahrain race for April. There remain concerns among some teams about safety after it was canceled this year because of anti-government protests.

Flanked by Bahrain’s crown prince, Ecclestone said he “looked forward to being back” in the Gulf state.

“Everybody is content. No dramas,” he said. “We wouldn’t have put it in the calendar otherwise. It was only because we knew we would be there.”

A government crackdown ended mass protests months ago but Sunni-ruled Bahrain’s security forces still clash almost daily with Shiite protesters demanding greater rights. More than 30 people have been reported killed in eight months of protests.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he was “very” confident the race would be held as scheduled, saying it has widespread support in the Gulf country and is symbolic of what Bahrain is all about.

“It is seen as prime symbol of moderation in the country; anyone with moderate agenda, global agenda knows that race is what ties Bahrain to the world,” the crown prince said. “Extremists on either side might disagree. But the majority of people, the majority of people especially those that love their country and want to be part of the world support it.”

Ecclestone also said he would like to see the Turkish Grand Prix return to the calendar. The race was dropped from next year’s list amid complaints from local organizers over the cost of staging the race.

Turkey joined the F1 calendar in 2005 but the race has had poor attendance because of high ticket prices and the difficulty of access to the venue on Istanbul’s Asian side.

Istanbul’s six-year contract expires this year. Many drivers have said they want to come back as they enjoy the testing circuit, with its mammoth Turn Eight, the longest of the season.

“I didn’t want to lose it. We are trying with the government to see if we can’t resurrect it,” Ecclestone said, adding that it was unlikely be held next year. “I doubt it, but you never know. We’ll do our best.”

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