Official: F1 teams, fans can expect better conditions at Korean GP

Oct 10, 2011, 15:23 GMT

Seoul - Formula One teams and fans will will find better conditions at the weekend's Korean Grand Prix than at the 2011 race debut, a senior organizer said on Monday.

The inaugural event in Yeongnam, 384 kilometers southwest of Seoul, suffered from unfinished touches on and around the circuit, as well as marketing problems. The result was the dismissal of chief executive Chung Young Cho from the organizing Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO).

Organizers have used the 12 months until the second edition on Sunday to improve the infrastructure for spectators and won more sponsors as well.

During the three-day event, visitors will find almost 100 new food and beverages outlets as well as more parking space, senior KAVO official Suh In Nam said. Shuttle bus services have been expanded and a new road access to the race track has been added.

Suh also said that ticket sales have been better than in 2011 and that sponsorships have also increased in a country where baseball and football are the top sports and motorsport gets little attention.

'Last year, we have none of Korean corporate sponsors, except LG business group that is a global sponsor. This year, we've secured two corporate sponsors. Both are two flagship Korean conglomerates,' said Suh.