US Grand Prix Formula 1 track gets green light

The new track built for this season's United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, has been passed fit for racing.

Bosses at the Circuit of The Americas track confirmed approval had been given following its pre-race inspection by Formula 1's governing body, the FIA.

The race, scheduled for 18 November, had a number of problems in its preparation and was on the brink of being dropped last year.

It will be the first circuit to host an F1 race in the US since 2007.

The decision ends a long-running saga surrounding the event, with building work halted late last year after a dispute between F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and race organisers.

Construction was stopped in November 2011 when the circuit's owners said they had not been granted a contract to stage the race.

Next year's US Grand Prix is due to take place in New Jersey, but that event is now in doubt, with Ecclestone repeatedly questioning the organisers' readiness to stage the race.

The Grand Prix has been included on the provisional race list for 2013 and the calendar will be finalised on Friday.