Bernie has been “incredibly patient,” Hellmund admits

Circuit of The Americas president Steve Sexton has responded to negative comments from Bernie Ecclestone about the Austin project, while race founder Tavo Hellmund says the F1 boss has been “incredibly patient.”

Ecclestone says that there is a division between the company behind the track and Hellmund’s Full Throttle Productions, which has the contract for the event.

Sexton admitted that there are “challenges” with the project, but remains confident that all will be well.

“There is no question that if he wants the USGP race to happen here in 2012, it certainly will,” said Sexton in a statement quoted by the Statesman newspaper.

“Our funding is secured, and construction is on schedule, so we don’t understand Mr. Ecclestone’s comments. He has expressed great interest in the Austin race and in expanding the F1 brand into the United States.

“A project of this magnitude has its challenges and we have had ours, but the City, the County, our state officials, our employees and construction workers, and our community supporters are all counting on Circuit of The Americas to happen.”

Meanwhile The Statesman quoted Hellmund as saying: “Mr Ecclestone has been incredibly patient with the challenges here in Austin. Full Throttle Productions has worked tirelessly to bring the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix to Austin. It is now the responsibility of the Circuit of the Americas to make this project happen before Mr Ecclestone’s patience runs out.”