Austin F1 race in doubt

The 2012 Formula One Austin Grand Prix has been thrown into doubt after construction work stopped at the venue.

A dispute between event promoters and race rights owners Full Throttle Productions and venue operators Circuit of the Americas, who are responsible for constructing the venue, has seen work on the new track halted.

The race's hosting contracts are yet to be transferred from Full Throttle to Circuit of the Americas.

"We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP Championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern," Circuit of the Americas founder Bobby Epstein said.

In a subsequent statement, Full Throttle Productions said:

"After years of effort in getting F1 to Austin, Full Throttle Productions and city, county and state officials have done all we could."

"It is the responsibility of Circuit of the Americas to bring it across the finish line."

The International Automobile Federation are set to meet early in December to confirm the 2012 F1 calendar.

If the transfer of the Austin contracts has not been finalised, the race could be left out of the schedule.

F1 owner and chief executive Bernie Ecclestone spoke to team principals at October's Indian GP of his doubts over whether the Texas-based race would go ahead.

The Austin GP was to be the first F1 race to be staged in the United States since 2007.

A second US-based GP is planned for New Jersey in 2013.