Patronise F1

The United States Grand Prix has remained a part of the final, fully official Formula One 2012 schedule, despite ongoing concerns about the validity of the race's debut following a series of financial and organisational issues.

The FIA confirmed the twenty-round calendar for the 2012 season for what felt like the seventeenth time, after the schedule was finally ratified by the World Motor Sport Council.

The US race has been plagued with doubts over its future in recent races, after the circuit organisers struggled to come to a new contractual agreement with Bernie Ecclestone.

The FOM chief had given the race the WMSC meeting as a deadline to prove that they would be able to fulfil their 2012 obligations.

And given that the new Tilkedrome in Austin, Texas has remained on the schedule, that proof has apparently arrived.

Work stopped at the site of the new track last week amidst a contractual wrangle between the race promotors and the circuit organisers.

But this week, the Austin Chronicle quoted an unnamed source within the race organisation as saying that plans for 2012 were now "looking good".

The race, which will see the United States Grand Prix return to the schedule for the first time since 2007, is scheduled to take place on November 18th next year.

Meanwhile, the fully-ratified WMSC calendar also still includes the Bahrain Grand Prix in their April 22nd spot.

Continued concerns over the political situation in the Gulf State, following this year's wave of protests, had led to doubts over the race's future.

But the Bahrain GP remains listed on the full 20-race schedule, as the fourth race of the season.