Formula One race director Charlie Whiting has praised the work done at New York race track Watkins Glen, claiming the track would be “wonderful” for Formula One races after it was recently resurfaced.
Whiting visited Watkins Glen as part of his triennial circuit inspection of the circuit, it just so happened recent resurfacing work had been completed on the track just days before his arrival.
Speaking to local media following his visit, Whiting praised the hard work that had been done to the track.
“I think the track looks marvelous,” he said.
“I am really, really impressed with the work that has been done. It has been done to a very, very high standard.”
Whiting went on to claim Watkins Glen now had all of the necessary requirements to host a Formula One race apart from the finances, even seeming to suggest a race held there would be better than at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
“I think it is one of the most charismatic circuits in the US,” he said.
“There are newer ones like the Circuit of the Americas but it hasn’t got the character that this has got.
“I think it would be an absolutely wonderful circuit for F1 cars to race on – but we all know it is not quite as simple as that. As far as circuits in the US go, this is right up there.”
“It is always a pleasure to come over and see how things are done over here, to see how well things can be done without going to the silly levels of some of the modern tracks that get built by very wealthy governments – what we see here is an absolute gem of a track. It has got heritage and that is what I like.”
Watkins Glen has not held a Formula One Grand Prix since 1980 USA Grand Prix after the track was removed from the Formula One schedule after they failed to pay over 800 thousand dollars to the Formula One teams.
