The world governing body for motor racing launched an inspection yesterday of the track for South Korea’s first Formula One event, less than two weeks before the race is scheduled to get under way.

The inspection came two days after contractors completed work on the surface of the track built by the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) at Yeongam, 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of Seoul.

It was led by Charlie Whiting, technical director of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), KAVO spokesman Kim Jae-Ho told AFP.

“Whiting, going on foot, has been checking every corner of the track,” he said.

“So far we have received positive remarks from him, and we are confident that the track will pass the inspection which focused on its safety and appropriateness.”

Doubts had been raised whether the new circuit would be completed ahead of the race on October 24. But F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone told Britain’s Daily Express newspaper that the inaugural Korean Grand Prix would go ahead as planned.

An official FIA decision on the race is set to be announced tomorrow.