Chris Pook brought in to help US F1 race

The troubled Grand Prix of America has hired one of the United States’ most respected men in motor sport to boost their hopes of being on next year’s Formula One calendar.

The race in New Jersey, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, was initially scheduled to take place next month.

However, issues with regard to its contract with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and over construction, forced a cancellation until next year.

There have also been high-profile departures, notably with Tom Cotter quitting as president last August, followed shortly after by Michael Cummings and Trip Wheeler resigning from their positions as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer, respectively.

Construction, however, is continuing, and now race chairman and promoter Leo Hindery Jr has taken on Chris Pook as a special assistant.

Pook was a co-founder of the USA Grand Prix West that ran at Long Beach from 1976 to 1983, was involved in taking further F1 races to Detroit, Las Vegas and Dallas, and is also a former chief executive of the CART championship.

Respected by Ecclestone, the 82-year-old said: “I am happy to be working with Chris again after some 20 years.

“Chris has a history of great success in Formula One, which I’m confident he’ll bring to the Grand Prix of America race. We look forward to working with him to bring F1 racing to New Jersey and New York.”

Pook’s capture appears to be a feather in the cap for Hindery Jr, who has come in for considerable criticism with regard to his ambitious plans for the race.