Most liked posts in thread: F1 Coming to .... TX!!

Steve · Jun 24, 2012

Nathan said: ↑

Hmmm...so no car club corrals for masses.

That is a big part of the fun at these events when there is a fair amount of downtime. Hanging with your peeps...

Year 1 - sellout

Year 2 - Not so much as people get frustrated with all this crap pretty darn fast.
Click to expand...

IF that comment I quoted is actually correct. It's just a comment I found posted by someone in response to this.

Redbeard said: ↑

Yeah, I'm not sure what everyone expected. Those are Farm to Market roads out there. Two lanes. No way the can accomodate the traffic.

It will be worse than Las Vegas Motorspeedway after a NASCAR race. 3+hours to get out of the track.

No joy on getting to the track this weekend. The wife and I changed plans. I have some free time this week. I will take a swing out there.
Click to expand...

Again, IF they don't let many cars in then there may not be significant delays. On the other hand, unless they turn people away before they get on the feeder roads to the track the roads will be clogged with people being turned away nearer the gate and having to back track to park and find a shuttle. That still might mean little delays outbound after the festivities.....maybe.

Steve · Aug 3, 2012

First lap of tarmac laid at COTA (GPUpdate.net)

3 August 2012

Excitement levels are rising at Austinâ€™s Circuit of the Americas (COTA), which will be hosting the returning United States Grand Prix in mid-November. The first full lap of tarmac has now been laid on the inside line of the track.

The process, known as â€˜marrying the trackâ€™, took place on the start/finish straight, as the first phase of asphalting was completed between the first and last corners of the circuit.

With around three metres of clay having been excavated along the length of the track, it was replaced by a black polyester material of around 30 millimetres in thickness. This material will act as an envelope for layers of select fill, making sure it remains exactly in place.

Also on Friday, the Texas venue announced that it has now sold out of General Admission tickets but that entrances to some grandstands do remain. Fans from 37 foreign countries will be travelling to the race.
Click to expand...

Minidave · Aug 4, 2012

Wonder what kind of lap time that thing can turn?

Bet I can beat it........

Nathan · Aug 20, 2012

Construction Time Lapse Video

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZRLALJrx0A&hd=1]COTA Timelapse Video August 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

Minidave · Aug 20, 2012

I'm excited that it's really going to happen, but boy howdy there's a lot left to do in only 2 1/2 months!

minirab · Aug 21, 2012

Really hope they can pull this off, turn one looks like a winner!

old81 · Aug 21, 2012

Kids live in Austin, but I think I will skip on this one.

Lots of work left to do, it will be crowded and a bit hot in November.

It will be great if it goes more than one year. Like all new things, those with the money will pay a premium.

I prefer the cheap seats and the ability to roam the facility, not sure that is going to be an option here.

I wonder who will be offering a feed via the internet on race day. :fingerscrossed:

Don

Zapski · Aug 21, 2012

old81 said: ↑

I wonder who will be offering a feed via the internet on race day. :fingerscrossed:

Don
Click to expand...

Probably my Russian pirate site, if no one else. :devil:

Nathan · Sep 26, 2012

Austinâ€™s F1 track passes safety inspection

From the Sept 25, 2012 Austin Statesman

Circuit of the Americas passed its final inspection Tuesday with flying colors.

Charlie Whiting, race director and safety delegate for Formula One, not only declared the circuit ready for the U.S. Grand Prix in less than two months, he praised the track’s design and workmanship. Whiting said when the Formula One circus does arrives, “I think they’ll all be really stunned ….”

On Tuesday morning, Whiting, who inspects all new F1 tracks for FIA — the world governing body for motorsports — walked the entire 3.4-mile circuit with an eye to detail. He checked the track surface, curbs, guardrails and fences — the essentials for race safety.

Full article - Austin Statesman

Steve · Sep 29, 2012

The Grand-Am announcement is good news and confirms earlier speculation.

However, I can see why people are pissed off by the equipment announcement. And the article seems to miss that the follow-up "clarification" changed nothing about the policy and leaves all the exclusions as they were in the original announcement.

In essence it says the only recording allowed is via still camera with less than a 10-inch lens; no video recording, no audio recording, you can't even bring a tripod for your still camera. Will they enforce the rule? That's another story, I suppose.

Austin prohibits equipment but announces Grand Am for 2013 (formula1blog.com)

Posted by: Negative Camber on September 28, 2012

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) had asome good news today…and it had some news that may have upset a few folks. COTA had a press release that announced the items that would be banned from the circuit and it included DSLR cameras with Professional lenses. The statement read:

“Video cameras, still cameras with lenses exceeding 10 inches in length or detachable lenses of any kind, audio recording devices and tripods; no video recording will be allowed“

The folks at COTA received immediate blowback on the issue and revised their statement as follows:

In response to fan feedback, Circuit of The Americas has updated the list of prohibited items for the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, Nov. 16-18, 2012.

Patrons with still cameras featuring detachable lenses smaller than 10 inches in length WILL BE permitted on site during the Grand Prix event. However, detachable camera lenses longer than 10 inches will be prohibited.

So no video or photography equipment like the professionals use.

On the “better” news front, COTA has announced the track will host a round of the 2013 Grand Am series and that’s great for fans of America’s tin-top racing and even better for ALMS when it merges with Grand Am. A proper circuit and proper series is great for track economics. Here is the announcement in full:

AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 28, 2012) – Circuit of The Americas today announced that it will be one of the new locations joining the GRAND-AM Road Racing series in the coming year, with an event planned for March 2, 2013, at the new purpose-built Grand Prix venue in Central Texas.

Established in 1999, GRAND-AM Road Racing has a large U.S. fan base, with nearly 20 million adults following the series. GRAND-AM sanctions the Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, which deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America. Both series are televised in the United States and Canada on the SPEED™ network and distributed globally through ESPN International. GRAND-AM’s popularity with television audiences has been growing, and it’s enjoyed the highest percentage growth of any major motorsports series on television over the past five years.

GRAND-AM Road Racing showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and sophisticated racing machines from the industry’s leading constructors and the world’s top automobile manufacturers. The Rolex Series is also home to some of the best and most recognized names in motorsports, such as Scott Pruett, Max Angelelli, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty, David Donohue, Darren Law, Andy Lally and more.

“Circuit of The Americas is thrilled to be included in what has clearly become one of the top road-racing series in the world,” Circuit Executive Vice President Bruce Knox said. “GRAND-AM features some of motorsport’s most accomplished drivers and iconic U.S. racing venues, including Daytona, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen. We are honored to be part of the series’ 2013 schedule, and we appreciate the efforts of the Austin Sports Commission in working with us to help secure this event for our city and venue.”

So while you may feel like you’ve been poked in the eye over $200 weekend parking passes and no video or professional photography equipment, just know you’ll be able to walk to the circuit and not capture the terrific Grand Am series in all its glory but you will be able to tell your kids about it from memory.
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Steve · Oct 17, 2012

Track update pics.

Main grandstand:

Front straight:

Turn 1:

Looks like Turns 3, 4, 5:

Turn 8:

Turn 11:

A few more pics avail here and here.

Angib · Oct 17, 2012

The saw-tooth kerbs look interesting - more and more violent shuddering the further the drivers cut them, until they reach a smooth section of paving inside the saw-tooth. It looks like there might be viable way to soften the corners by getting the inside wheel onto that smooth section. That's if the car survives getting there.....

minirab · Oct 23, 2012

They actually got it finished in time! I'm impressed, it sure looks better

than Korea and India did for their first year's race. Now we need the

sound of those furrin f-1 cars!!!!!:biggrin5:

old81 · Oct 23, 2012

Interesting, I have two friends from the Denver area working the race in November. I will have to see what they post up and try to share.

Looks like someone laid down a track of oil already, that is interesting too.

Don

Steve · Oct 23, 2012

minirab said: ↑

They actually got it finished in time! I'm impressed, it sure looks better

than Korea and India did for their first year's race. Now we need the

sound of those furrin f-1 cars!!!!!:biggrin5:
Click to expand...

I think it already looks better than Korea did for this year's race, never mind its first. :biggrin5: India is this weekend, we'll see if they've improved that one in a few days.

minirab · Oct 24, 2012

Steve you are right, I guess they haven't heard of hydro-seeding there

yet.

Steve · Oct 26, 2012

And here are a few laps with Alex Gurney learning the track (and picking up speed as he goes) in a Grand-Am Daytona Prototype. The camera location sucks, plus from time to time it looks like it's had too much to drink...that is, if a camera could get intoxicated...but it's still worth a look.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT6bYVb0CBk]Red Dragon on Circuit of the Americas - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Oct 31, 2012

Turn for turn, Austin track's design, layout should look familiar to F1 drivers (statesman.com)

Updated: 11:36 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2012 | Posted: 11:25 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2012

By John Maher

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

An irony of the Circuit of the Americas project is that two people who played key roles in the design of the 3.4-mile road course promoter Tavo Hellmund and motorcycling legend Kevin Schwantz may have little to do with the track in the future.

Hellmund, who conceived of the project, had a nasty rift with the track's investors and is currently suing them. Schwantz, the 1993 motorcycling world champion and Hellmund's long-time friend, seemed to be the likely face of the circuit's MotoGPMoto GP event, which was announced at a splashy press conference a year ago. But because of a contract dispute, it's now unclear whether MotoGPMoto GP will race at the circuit next year or any year.

Recently, however, Hellmund and Schwantz sat down with the American-Statesman not to talk about their issues with circuit officials, but to share â€” for the first time â€” the story of the design of the track.

It's a process that has spanned a half-dozen years and involved scribbling, blueprints, 3D models, high-tech simulators, at least three tracts of land and a few beverages at the Hyatt lobby bar with Johannes Hogrebe.

Hogrebe is a talented engineer with Tilke GmbH who was charged with transforming Hellmund and Schwantz's ideas into racing reality.

The goal of the design was to pay homage to some of the world's most famous courses and to challenge drivers and riders, rewarding them for calculated risk-taking. How well the circuit succeeds at that mission could ultimately determine the fate of the $300 million project.

"The best promotion is these guys (racers) leaving saying, Holy (expletive)!" Schwantz said.

The track design began more than a half-dozen years ago as a rough sketch drawn by Hellmund in the kitchen of London-based Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, a family friend. Along with Ecclestone, Hellmund's father, Gustavo, was instrumental in bringing Formula One to Mexico in the 1980s.

As a teenager, Hellmund worked as a gopher for Ecclestone's F1 team back then, Brabham. As Hellmund worked on his dream track in recent years, Ecclestone would occasionally chide him not to try to include too many turns, not to make it too technical, and to keep it fast.

"He'd say things like don't get too cheeky," Hellmund laughed.

It didn't take long for Hellmund to seek input from Schwantz, whose aggressive racing style has made him a fan favorite.

Although he's now 47, Schwantz is still a risk taker. When he talked to the American-Statesman, he was just beginning his recovery from a painful hairline fracture of his sternum, an injury sustained while mountain biking at City Park shortly before he was going to host a Formula One watch party at his home. Hogrebe said Schwantz has brought the same intensity to designing that he did to racing.

"You don't need a simulator if you have Kevin," Hogrebe said in a phone interview from the Tilke office in Germany. "He's like a simulator himself. He's always driving, braking and accelerating."

The Tilke team was headed by managing partner Peter Wahl and project manager Christian Epp.

By 2008, Hellmund had roughed out a sketch for a track in east Austin. It was not at the current location in Elroy, but at Wildhorse Ranch near the intersection of U.S. 290 and Texas 130, near Manor. Another tract that received serious consideration was the land for Villa Muse, a proposed residential and entertainment project near Manor and in Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction â€” or unincorporated land over which Austin has limited zoning control â€” that never materialized.

In the beginning of 2010, Hogrebe said, the Tilke contingent was shown a tract of land near Elroy.

"We stood on the upper hill looking down and saw the skyline of the city," Hogrebe said. "It became very clear it was the perfect plot for a racetrack. It was a very quick decision with that plot of land."

One attraction was the dramatic change of elevation on the site, a feature the Wildhorse tract also had, but that Villa Muse did not.

"You want to follow the earthworks as much as possible, going down to the deepest spots and then rising up," Hogrebe said.

A limitation of the Elroy site was that some of it was in a flood plain and could not be used for the track itself. But having a site to work with allowed the design to move ahead.

"You never could put the whole thing together until you saw the dirt," Schwantz said.

Turn 1: A tricky start

In 2007, when he was roughing out a sketch and making notes on the track, Hellmund faced a dilemma at the very first turn â€” should it be similar to the famous uphill Eau Rouge sequence at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, or Turn One at the old Ã–sterreichring in Austria?

Hellmund eventually went with a personal memory, recalling a lap in a BMW M6 in Austria's scenic Styrian Mountains when he was working for Ecclestone's Brabham team.

"I was in passenger seat with Nelson Piquet driving," Hellmund recalled. Back then Piquet, an F1 world champion, made a hard right after the uphill climb to the Hella-Licht chicane. At the Circuit of the Americas the turn is more severe â€” well past 90 degrees â€” and breaks to the left instead of the right.

"It's a little bit of an optical illusion; you're still running 180 or 190 (miles-an-hour). You're braking and you're still going uphill," Hellmund said. Drivers will drop to 70 miles-an-hour as they round the corner.

The turn was later altered after Tilke received feedback from former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, who had ran the track through a McLaren simulator.

The turn was widened, but not in the way suggested, which was to add asphalt on the outside.

Schwantz and Hellmund figured a driver who took an outside line would either crash or have to lay off the gas if his gambit didn't work. Instead, they asked that the turn be widened on the inside.

Turn 2: A Senna curve

"If you look at the Brazilian Grand Prix, this is the Senna curve," Hellmund said. The late Ayrton Senna is Hellmund's favorite driver, but the turn was incorporated for its shape and downward slope rather than its name.

The biggest difference between the Circuit of the Americas' turn and that of Interlagos is the difference in length from the preceding turn.

Schwantz said that after testing a driver's courage going up on the first turn, "We want to see how well you can tolerate it going back down."

Turns 4, 5, 6: Homages

At the Circuit of the Americas, turns 4, 5 and 6 are basically the Maggots, Becketts and Chapel sequence at England's Silverstone, which first hosted the British Grand Prix in 1948.

A favorite among drivers and fans, Silverstone's Maggots, Becketts and Chapel are an ultra-fast series of left and right turns that are taken at an average of 120 mph.

Drivers say precision and bravery are required to keep cars on the right line through the turns, which former driver David Coulthard has described as a "roller-coaster ride."

Drivers will enter the sequence in Austin at about 180 miles an hour and pull about 3.7 Gs through the turns.

Turns 7, 8, 9: Downshift

At Silverstone, drivers exiting Chapel then head into a straightaway. Not so at Circuit of the Americas. Turns 7 and 8 are sharp, designed to reduce speed.

According to Hellmund and Schwantz, it was Hogrebe who came up with those corners to set up Turn 10, which isn't modeled on any famous turn but promises to be one of the most exciting at the track.

Turn 10: Leap of faith

Both Hellmund and Schwantz wanted a blind turn for the track.

At the Elroy site, it would have required a lot of runoff area â€” and expensive excavation â€” if the cars were moving too fast on the elevated turn.

The trick was how to keep the turn exciting even at a slower speed.

"Kevin came up with the idea of having the crest behind the apex," Hellmund said.

Hogrebe said, "We come across a hill. We are going 90 miles an hour and this is very interesting. The visibility is not given."

A mistake in the line could set up a passing opportunity for a following car â€” if it did not also take the same line as the leader.

Turn 11: Going downhill

As the drivers come out of the blind turn in slightly different lines, they'll scream down a hill, reaching about 180 mph before hitting Turn 11, where they'll have to do some hard braking â€” dropping down below 65 mph to cope with a turn that is well beyond 90 degrees.

"We believe it creates a fantastic point for overtaking," Hogrebe said. "We widened the left edge."

After 11 comes the back straightaway of 1.2 kilometers that's not completely straight.

"It rises a little bit before it drops," Schwantz said.

Turns 12-14: A good spot

Very soon after Hellmund talked with Schwantz about his dream track, Schwantz had a suggestion: It should have a Hockenheim section.

"I always thought Hockenheim was really good," Schwantz said. "You're out in the woods for so long and then you've got five or six corners to decide it."

A battle Schwantz had with Wayne Rainey in Hockenheim's stadium section is stuff of legend and YouTube videos.

Schwantz hit the brakes late, causing his back tire to shimmy and shake, but was able to hold off Rainey through the turn and win.

Schwantz said there was a dispute for awhile over whether the track would get a Hockemheim section; Hogrebe said it was only that the redesigns took some time.

Wahl has previously said that if he were watching the race from the stands, this is where he would sit. Hellmund said the section should be a little slower than Hockenheim, but that allows fans to see the cars and motorcycles a little bit longer.

Turns 16-18: Turkeys

From Germany, drivers will go quickly to Turkey.

The Turkish Grand Prix never caught on with fans. It debuted in 2005 and was dropped from this year's calendar. Instanbul Park, however, was one of his Tilke's most popular circuits with drivers, who particularly like the multi-apex Turn 8. Drivers will be going into turns 16, 17 and 18 in a different direction in Elroy than they would be at Turn 8 in Istanbul, but the effect should be the same.

"The drivers are going to refer to it as one corner, but it's a triple-apex," said Hellmund. "This is slightly downhill and Istanbul is slightly uphill. It should be faster than Istanbul. The cars should be doing 180."

Turns 19-20: Straight on

These turns are mainly a way to get back to the straightaway and the uphill climb to the first turn.

There is something, however, to notice on the straightaway â€” according to Hellmund, the pit lane is wider than it is for F1 tracks and designed to accommodate American-style racing, including NASCAR.

Hellmund said that while a typical F1 track might have one or two places for passing opportunities, "there are probably three or four for Formula One. Every other series probably has seven passing opportunities."

As for the name of the track, Hellmund said that too was inspired by something, a Mexican horse track called HipÃ³dromo de las AmÃ©ricas.

Contact John Maher at 445-3956

Circuit of the Americas basic layout

Number of laps for American Grand Prix: 56

Circuit distance: 3.43 miles
Click to expand...

Redbeard · Oct 31, 2012

I got my F1 briefing today along with a bunch of interesting info. Looks like the majority of ticket sold were to Texas residents. Followed by California, New York, then Florida. 15% of tickets sold were to international fans. The vast majority of those international tickets were sold to folks from Mexico. Should be an interesting croud I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be spending what spare time I have greeting F1 fans at the Airport here in Austin as they arrive and depart. If you spot a 6ft balding guy with a red beard and bright yellow shirt come say "Hi".

goaljnky · Oct 31, 2012

Redbeard said: ↑

I got my F1 briefing today along with a bunch of interesting info. Looks like the majority of ticket sold were to Texas residents. Followed by California, New York, then Florida. 15% of tickets sold were to international fans. The vast majority of those international tickets were sold to folks from Mexico. Should be an interesting croud I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be spending what spare time I have greeting F1 fans at the Airport here in Austin as they arrive and depart. If you spot a 6ft balding guy with a red beard and bright yellow shirt come say "Hi".
Click to expand...

Hey, Brian. The wife and I are coming on Thursday, the 15th. Maybe I'll catch you there.

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