New Delhi: The chief organiser of the Indian Grand Prix has resigned, the promoters said on Monday, barely nine months before the country is to host its inaugural Formula One race.
Mark Hughes, a former number two at the Bahrain circuit, in charge of building the Indian facility for the past 12 months, quit last month 'due to personal reasons', the promoters said.
"Mark Hughes is no longer working with us, he left due to his own personal reasons," Sameer Kumar, chief spokesman for the promoters, the Jaypee group, told AFP.
Kumar did not elaborate on Hughes's sudden departure, but said operations at the circuit were now being handled by Azhar Ghazali, a former race organiser in Sepang, Malaysia.
"Mr Ghazali is a very capable man and he's more than making up for Mr Hughes's absence," said Kumar.
India is due to hold the race on October 30 at an under-construction $350 million 5.14-kilometre (3.2 mile) circuit designed by renowned German architect Herman Tilke in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi.
The circuit is part of an ambitious 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) sports complex being built by the Jaypee group that will include an international-standard cricket stadium.
Hughes confirmed the development, telling AFP he was now working with the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
"Whilst I am no longer based in India and I am working for the circuit in Abu Dhabi, I am still closely associated with Jaypee and am still advising them on the upcoming Indian Grand Prix," he said.
The promoters, whose business includes infrastructure and real estate, were confident of holding a successful race despite Hughes's departure.
"Work on the track is now going on at full swing. We have about 6,000 people working on the circuit," said Kumar.
"Homologation (approval by F1 officials) of the circuit is expected to happen by July-August. All trackside infrastructure will also be completed well in time."
Formula One has been followed closely in cricket-crazy India after local driver Narain Karthikeyan raced for the now defunct Jordan team in 2005.
Karthikeyan will return to the circuit in 2011 following a deal with the Spanish Hispania racing team.
Another Indian, Karun Chandhok, drove last year for Hispania, who finished 11th out of 12 in its inaugural year.