Sochi's mayor Anatoly Pakhomov told Reuters, in emailed and translated replies to questions, that the track would be ready well ahead of the Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort that year although the biggest challenge for the project is the fact that the F1 calendar would not be finalised until late 2013, leaving organisers uncertain about how much time they would have for the preparations after the February Olympic Winter Games.Anatoly Pakhomov commented:
"Of course there are some more specific features that will need to be added upon the completion of the Olympic Games such as run-off areas, catch fencing etc. But we foresee the base requirements of the track being completed approximately one year prior to the first race being held. ...There is every intention to ensure that the F1 race will go ahead as planned in 2014. The specific requirements of managing the two events together is being studied carefully at present as the committee working to oversee the successful implementation of the Olympics becomes fully integrated with the committee being set up to orchestrate the F1 race which is still in its formative stage.
However, I don't foresee any slippage of the race into 2015 being necessary."
The mayor insisted that organisers intended to use as many of the Olympic facilities as possible for the grand prix in an unusual legacy of the Games. For that reason there would be no need to build two international media centres and many of the high profile Olympic builidings could be used for corporate hospitality such as the Winter Olympic Village.
Pakhomov added:
"The (grand prix) project has been very closely costed and government at all levels are investing just under $200m (£129,178,277) in building the track facilities."
Andrey Kraynik, a senior executive of Olympic and Grand Prix sponsor MegaFon, expected the street circuit built near the Olympic Park to become a fan favourite.
"When we first invited (designer Hermann) Tilke down to see Sochi in 2009 we stressed the importance of ensuring the track design got the balance right," he said by email. The track will be a classic track with an emphasis on good overtaking opportunities, no gimmicks. It will have a mix of high speed corners, long straights and hairpins. On the one hand you will have the mountains as a backdrop and a city street-track feel at the same time. It will come to be loved by the fans like Montreal, and be challenging for the drivers like Monaco."
