FIA dismiss 'race around a car park' fears ahead of Miami GP

FIA race director Michael Masi has dismissed concerns the upcoming Miami Grand Prix will mirror past events in the United States and be a race around a car park.

The addition to the F1 calendar of the Miami GP is one of the most hotly anticipated in the sport's history, particularly given the rise in interest in Formula 1 in the US, as underlined by the United States GP in Austin at the weekend.

The one aspect under scrutiny is whether the Miami International Autodrome will deliver the excitement on track to live up to the hype of the event.

In 1981 and '82, F1 infamously held the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in the parking lot of the hotel of the same name, drawing considerable criticism.

On this occasion, the Miami event is a 19-turn, 5.41km circuit based around the Hard Rock Stadium that is home to the Miami Dolphins American football team.

Masi, who recently conducted an inspection to assess the ongoing work, dismissed theories the race is again being held in a car park.

With a 10-year contract, it is a permanent facility, with Masi stating: "It is a proper circuit.

"It is far from a race in a car park, far from it considering the level of work ongoing there in a number of areas. But the facility is coming along really well and it will be something unique."

Masi has been particularly struck by the fact the circuit is being constructed while the Dolphins are currently playing their home matches.

"It is great," added Masi. "I envy them in the way they are having to integrate an NFL season between all the work they are doing at the stadium and compartmentalise all that work, which is a credit to them.

"They were doing major work there last week, then obviously had to put everything back to a level for the Dolphins game to happen on the weekend and start again the following day.

"But Miami is coming along really well."

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