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

OUCH!! May not get to see an F1 race there after all...

Wonder how bad the hotels will gouge us?

 

$1000 tickets and hotels that will probably double the rates. Yeah, not looking like the real fans will be able to attend.

 

You see more on TV....

I'm going to Austin mid March to see my brother, my plan is drive down there with him and see how they're doing. If I can see anything, I'll take pics and post back.

 

At those prices if I get offered free tickets to Monaco this year, I am going to take the offer.

 

Me and my best friend already have plans to go to Austin for this race in 2012. I cant wait

 

The survey arrived in my inbox this morning. I thought I would share the questions.

------

We are conducting research regarding a leading edge Formula One track being built in Austin, Texas that may be of interest, not only in Texas, but throughout the country, as this will be the only Formula One event in the USA - featuring the very best cars and drivers in the world, competing on a challenging new circuit.

Before we discuss the exciting, new development, we would like to ask you a few questions about you to better understand our potential fan base.

1. Thank you for registering your interest in the Formula One United States Grand Prix. Are you interested in purchasing hospitality or seating products on a personal or corporate basis?

Note: corporate purchases are generally made for entertaining clients, etc, whereas personal purchases are usually for attending with friends and family.

Corporate purchase
Personal purchase

2. Are you the head of your household?

Note: by head of household, we mean the main income earner within the home.

Yes
No

3. In which region of the US do you reside?

Midwest
Northeast
South
West
Other Country, please specify

4. Within which state of the South do you live?

Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington DC
West Virginia

5. Might I confirm the region of Texas do you live?

High Plains
Northwest Texas
Metroplex
Upper East Texas
Southeast Texas
Gulf Coast
Central Texas
Upper South Texas
West Texas
Upper Rio Grande
Lower South Texas
Other state/country, please specify:

6. In which county within the Metroplex region do you live?

Collin
Cooke
Dallas
Denton
Ellis
Erath
Fannin
Grayson
Hood
Hunt
Johnson
Kaufman
Navarro
Palo Pinto
Parker
Rockwall
Somervell
Tarrant
Wise

7. How many persons are there in your household?

Please note - this survey is regarding the members of your household, their interest in motorsport and their recommendations regarding a potential new motorsport offering.

1 - myself only
2
3
4
5
6
7
8+

8. What is the level of education of the head of your household?

High school
Vocational
College
University complete (e.g. BA, BS)
Post-graduate (e.g. MA, MS, PhD)
Professional qualification (e.g. JD, MD)

9. Into which band does the gross annual income of your household fall?

Up to $19,999
$ 20,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $59,999
$60,000 - $69,999
$70,000 - $79,999
$80,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $249,999
$250,000 +

10. Which, if any, of the following motorsports do your household members follow?

Formula One
Drag racing
Speed World Challenge
NASCAR
IndyCar
Trans-Am Series
MotoGP
Superbike Racing
MotoCross
Enduro
Other, please specify:
None of the above

Congratulations! Your household has qualified for participation in our survey! We are conducting research on behalf of Full Throttle Productions regarding a world-class Formula One track being built in Texas with a view to hosting a Formula One event in Austin. We are exploring the option of offering discounts for the purchase of 'season tickets' and multi-year hospitality packages, which would guarantee your access to enjoy the Formula One and other motorsport events in comfort and style.


11. The online survey that we are conducting today takes about 10 minutes to complete. Would you like to participate in the survey?

Yes, I would like to participate
No, not interested in market research
No, not interested in the Austin F1 Track
Not enough time at present to do a survey
Refused for other reason, please specify:

12. Please indicate your gender:

Male
Female

13. How often have members of your household attended motorsport events over the past 12 months?

None - we haven't attended any motorsport events
1
2 - 3
4 - 5
6 - 9
10 - 14
15 - 19
20+

14. A new Formula One track is being built in Austin, Texas, that will offer a challenging racing experience for drivers and a superb experience for fans. Would you consider attending motorsport events, such as Formula One and MotoGP, at the Austin F1 Track?

Yes
No

Over the past few decades, motorsport in the USA has grown in popularity, with some of its motorsport series even hosting events outside of the USA. Formula One, the premier motorsport series globally, is set to make its debut in the USA, at the Austin F1 Track.

Whereas the Formula One United States Grand Prix was most recently held at the Indianapolis Speedway, with its characteristic rectangular track, F1 races are generally hosted on custom designed circuits or local streets, making the most of the contours of the local landscape. The track being built in Austin, Texas will be one of the "most challenging and spectacular in the world" and that it would include a selection of corner sequences inspired by the very best F1 circuits globally.

Alongside Formula One, it is anticipated that a range of other motorsport and entertainment events will be held at the circuit throughout the year, including:

• 1 Formula One Race

• 1 Moto GP motorcycle race

• 2 Open-wheel races

• 4 Other motorsport races (stockcars, etc)

• 4 Entertainment events in the infield (Concerts, independence day fireworks, etc.)

15. There may be opportunities for us to expand the range of events held at the Austin F1 track. Which of the following types of events would interest you?

Pro-Am events, in which participants join professional drivers in a friendly competition
Corporate tournaments with corporate teams competing against each other
VIP driving days in which sports car owners can test drive their own cars on the circuit
Other, please specify
None of the above

We will now review the hospitality products that would be on offer at the new Formula One track in Austin and would like you to select which, if any, you would like to purchase.

In addition to general admission tickets with which you will be familiar, there are three new types of seating products available at the new Formula One track in Austin, which we would like to briefly review with you.

• Corporate Suites

• Mini Suites

• Paddock Club

• Grandstand Seating

• Infield General Admission - Grass

• Other General Admission - Grass

We will briefly present each product and determine whether or not the product is relevant to your requirements before going into a more in-depth discussion. For example, we may not discuss corporate suites and mini suites with consumers, as these products are intended for the corporate market. Likewise, demand for general admission tickets might not be discussed with corporate respondents.

Paddock Club tickets are sold to wealthy individuals whose jet-set lifestyle includes travelling globally to F1 events, enjoying VIP hospitality at each event as well as to automotive companies who compete within, sponsor or supply the Formula One industry or are looking to do so. The tickets are purchased directly from Formula One Management in Geneva, Switzerland and offer a fairly standard level of hospitality accross all F1 events, globally, which includes:

• Hospitality facilities above the Pit Straight, offering views of the drivers and teams

• Networking lounge for mingling with the VIP Formula One crowd

• Excellent views of the start and finish of the race

• Limited views of curves and overtaking

Paddock Club tickets are sold for fairly similar prices globally and include tickets for the entire F1 weekend for $4,500. The Paddock Club ticket does NOT include access to any other motorsport or entertainment events hosted at the new circuit throughout the rest of the year.

16. How many Paddock Club Tickets would you most likely require, based on the number of people who would likely be attending with you and any budget constraints?

0 - No interest in / demand for Paddock Club Tickets
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9+

17. Grandstands are generally built at the best locations around the Formula One track, with the main grandstand being located behind the Pit Straight and the remaining grandstands being located at the best curves where overtaking is likely to occur.

At the Austin F1 Track, there will be three types of grandstand seats on offer:

• Platinum: seats at the top of the Main Grandstand, in front of the Pit Straight with access to the clubhouse

• Gold: seats on the Main Grandstand, in front of the Pit Straight with NO access to the clubhouse

• Silver: grandstand seats on the best curves, with no access to the clubhouse

There will be no general admission seating on any of these grandstands, offering a level of exclusivity required by VIPs and corporate clients. Each will suit different tastes, with the Pit Straights providing excellent views of the start and finish of the race, the racing teams and pit crews. Whilst the curves will provide the best viewing of highly technical driving for racing enthusiasts, there is no access to the clubhouse from these more distant locations, which are, however, fully serviced by high-end concessions.

The Platinum Grandstand Seats have access to the clubhouse, which offers a level of hospitality that is unparalleled within the other grandstand seating areas, which includes:

• Separate VIP entrance & reserved parking

• Staff / waiter service

• Access to VIP lounges

• Access to up to 5-star dining facilities

• Wider and more comfortable seats

As the platinum grandstand seats include access to a high-end clubhouse, the annual prices are substantially higher than the other grandstands. However, there may be options to secure a discounted annual fee by entering into a multi-year contract.

18. How many Grandstand Seats would you most likely require, based on the number of people with whom you would be attending and any budget constraints?

0 - No interest in / demand for Grandstand Seats
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9+

General admission seating at Formula One events usual involves sitting on the grass at locations that offer a good visibility of portions of the race. While there is no grandstand provided in these locations, the ticket prices are much more affordable and a lively atmosphere compensates for the lack of seating provision.

At the Austin F1 Track, there will be three types of general admission tickets on offer:

• 'Infield' Season Tickets: at a high point in the track offering commanding views of an infamous multi-apex turn as well as of the rest of the track

• 'Key Curve' Season Tickets: at the eventful first turn and an exciting hairpin turn at the far end of the track

• 'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets: a series of moderate curves along the first half of the track, where there are limited overtaking opportunities

General admission tickets in these areas will firstly be sold via season tickets, guaranteeing access to all events held at the circuit throughout the year, with the option to renew these tickets for subsequent years. The absence of assigned seating will allow you to mix and mingle and meet up with groups of friends who have also purchased general admission tickets within the same zone. Concessions will be available in the general admission areas such that your family and friends can 'refuel' at their convenience to be able to remain on-site for the duration of the race.

19. How many general admission tickets would your family most likely require, based on the size of your household and budget?

0 - No interest in / demand for General Admission Tickets
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9+

20. Given that general admission tickets in the best locations will be more costly, which ticket type would be most appropriate to your requirements? Please rank 1-3, with 1 being the most appropriate to your requirements.


'Infield' Tickets: at a high point in the track offering commanding views of the track

'Key Curve' Tickets: at the eventful first turn and an exciting hairpin turn at the far end of the track

'Sweeping Section' Tickets: a series of moderate curves along the first half of the track

We will now review the general admission tickets that may be on offer at the new Formula One Track and select which, if any, you would purchase.

21. 'Infield' Season Ticket holders will view the event from a high point on the circuit offering commanding views a multi-apex turn and the rest of the track. Bearing in mind these associated benefits, how many 'Infield' Season Tickets would you purchase for your household on the at the following prices?

Note: if 'Infield' Season Tickets would become unaffordable at any given price, please indicate accordingly.

Season Ticket Price ($)

'Infield' General Admission Demand
$560
Season Tickets
$500
Season Tickets
$450
Season Tickets
$400
Season Tickets
$360
Season Tickets
Note: the total outlay per year that you would incur equals the price per ticket multiplied by the number of 'Infield' Season Tickets that you select. Please indicate the number of tickets that would be affordable for you to purchase.

22. 'Key Curves' Ticket-holders will view either the eventful first turn or the exciting hairpin turn at the far end of the track. Bearing in mind these associated benefits, how many 'Key Curves' Season Tickets would you purchase for your household at the following prices?

Note: if 'Key Curves' Season Tickets would become unaffordable at any given price, please indicate accordingly.

Season Ticket Price ($)
'Key Curves' General Admission Demand
$470
Season Tickets
$420
Season Tickets
$380
Season Tickets
$340
Season Tickets
$300
Season Tickets
Note: the total outlay per year that you would incur equals the price per ticket multiplied by the number of 'Key Curves' Season Tickets that you select. Please indicate the number of tickets that would be affordable for you to purchase.

23. 'Sweeping Section' season tickets are located at a series of moderate curves along the first half of the track. Bearing in mind these associated benefits, how many 'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets would you purchase for your household at the following prices?

Note: if 'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets would become unaffordable at any given price, please indicate accordingly.

Season Ticket Price ($)
'Sweeping Section' General Admission Demand
$380
Season Tickets
$340
Season Tickets
$300
Season Tickets
$270
Season Tickets
$240
Season Tickets
Note: the total outlay per year that you would incur equals the price per ticket multiplied by the number of 'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets that you select. Please indicate the number of tickets that would be affordable for you to purchase.

The following section will present you with various scenarios in which you get to choose which seating product you would purchase, if the options presented to you were your only choices. In each scenario, you have the option to specify that you would not purchase any seating product at the Austin F1 Track, if you would prefer not to attend the new Austin F1 Track rather than to purchase the seating products presented.

These questions will enable us to run market simulations as to how the demand for hospitality products at the new Austin F1 Track - estimating how demand will respond to the various products offered at various prices. Please consider each scenario carefully as if you were making an actual purchase decision.


24. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Mini Suites (of 4 to 12 seats)
on a 1-year contract
at $3,130 per seat (or $25,040 for a 8-seat mini suite)

Silver Grandstand Seats
on a 10-year contract
at $1,260 per seat

Note: For your convenience, we have provided cost estimates for corporate suites and mini suites based on 20-seat and 8-seat configurations. When the products actually go to market, you will be able to choose the suite size best suited to your company.

25. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Silver Grandstand Seats
on a 7-year contract
at $900 per seat

'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets
at $380 per ticket (grass, no seat)

Note: For your convenience, we have provided cost estimates for corporate suites and mini suites based on 20-seat and 8-seat configurations. When the products actually go to market, you will be able to choose the suite size best suited to your company.

26. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Mini Suites (of 4 to 12 seats)
on a 7-year contract
at $3,910 per seat (or $31,280 for a 8-seat mini suite)

Corporate Suites (of 12 to 28 seats)
on a 5-year contract
at $5,000 per seat (or $100,000 for a 20-seat corporate suite)

27. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Platinum Grandstand Seats
on a 1-year contract
at $3,000 per seat

Corporate Suites (of 12 to 28 seats)
on a 3-year contract
at $4,470 per seat (or $89,400 for a 20-seat corporate suite)

28. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Paddock Club (3-day F1 ticket only)
at $5,630 per 3-day ticket

Gold Grandstand Seats
on a 10-year contract
at $1,000 per seat

29. f the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Key Curves' Season Tickets
at $340 per ticket (grass, no seat)

'Infield' Season Tickets
at $360 per ticket (grass, no seat)

30. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets
at $300 per ticket (grass, no seat)

Gold Grandstand Seats
on a 5-year contract
at $1,400 per seat

31. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Infield' Season Tickets
at $560 per ticket (grass, no seat)

Corporate Suites (of 12 to 28 seats)
on a 10-year contract
at $4,470 per seat (or $89,400 for a 20-seat corporate suite)

32. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Silver Grandstand Seats
on a 1-year contract
at $1,260 per seat

Mini Suites (of 4 to 12 seats)
on a 3-year contract
at $3,500 per seat (or $28,000 for a 8-seat mini suite)

33. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Paddock Club (3-day F1 ticket only)
at $3,600 per 3-day ticket

Platinum Grandstand Seats
on a 7-year contract
at $3,750 per seat

34. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets
at $240 per ticket (grass, no seat)

'Key Curves' Season Tickets
at $470 per ticket (grass, no seat)

35. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Platinum Grandstand Seats
on a 1-year contract
at $2,680 per seat

Corporate Suites (of 12 to 28 seats)
on a 5-year contract
at $5,590 per seat (or $111,800 for a 20-seat corporate suite)

36. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
Silver Grandstand Seats
on a 3-year contract
at $1,410 per seat

'Infield' Season Tickets
at $450 per ticket (grass, no seat)

37. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Sweeping Section' Season Tickets
at $270 per ticket (grass, no seat)

Gold Grandstand Seats
on a 7-year contract
at $1,000 per seat

38. If the following two seating products were your only choices for entertaining clients at the Austin F1 Track, which, if any, would you choose?

Choose by clicking one of the buttons below:
'Key Curves' Season Tickets
at $380 per ticket (grass, no seat)

Mini Suites (of 4 to 12 seats)
on a 10-year contract
at $3,910 per seat (or $31,280 for a 8-seat mini suite)
We are keen to ensure that the Austin F1 Track being built to host the Formula One United States Grand Prix is full and that there is a lively atmosphere.

As companies buying multi-year tickets may not able to attend all events, we are exploring the option of allowing ticket holders to resell a fixed share (e.g. 10%) of their tickets to individual events that they cannot attend via the Austin F1 website or another official outlet.

For example, you would log into your account on a website and put your ticket on sale. If the ticket is bought you would receive the average cost per event from the total price of the ticket selected.

39. Would you be more inclined to purchase an annual or multi-year ticketing product if you could re-sell your tickets for particular events?

Yes
No

40. Many thanks for your time and interest in the Austin F1 Track being built to host the Formula One United States Grand Prix. Would you like to be added to our priority list and be one of the first to be contacted when the Corporate Suites, Mini Suites and Grandstand Seats go on sale?

Yes
No

 

Wow.....I knew it would be spendy, but they sound like they're going out of their way to maximize the income potential. But hey, what did I expect, it's Formula 1......

So, how many suites did you book for our first M/A get together at F1?

 

We got the same survey. After reading and answering it would seem that it would be cheaper, or at least the same to attend an F1 event at a somewhat more exotic location then Austin, Texas. $350 for a no seat in the grass? It's a frigging joke!

 

Wow.....talk about things being bigger in Texas. Those prices are outrageous.

 

For comparison sake...Montreal 2011

Grandstand 1 3 days $540.00
Grandstand 2 3 days $540.00

Grandstand 11 3 days $430.00
Grandstand 12 3 days $430.00
Grandstand 15 3 days $430.00
Grandstand 21 3 days $430.00
Grandstand 24 3 days $430.00

Grandstand 22 3 days $250.00
Grandstand 31 3 days $250.00
Grandstand 33 3 days $250.00
Grandstand 34 3 days $265.00

Platform wheelchair accessible 41a 3 days $110.00
Platform wheelchair accessible 21a 3 days $430.00

General admission 3 days $110.00
General admission Friday $30.00
General admission Saturday $55.00
General admission Sunday $80.00

All prices Canadian...

 

Indy 500 tickets range from $70-$150 for race day.

Daytona 500 ranges from $55 for General Admission day of the race to $600 for great seat for all days.

Sebring ranges from $70 - $500

IMHO F1 in the US is pricing itself to be a non-event for me. You know that hotels are going to also be insanely priced, concessions will be stratospheric in cost and I'll venture to bet that parking is going to put a big dent in the wallet too.

 

Hotel prices in Montreal have gone up about 200% in the past two years...we received a call from our hotel last Monday to pay for all three nights in full...race is 5 months away.

Yeah, I do believe they're killing their chances in Austin... I also just read that they definitely want the race date in the fall. If the two NA races share the transportation costs with the race a week apart, this will only make it more costly if they get their way in Austin and get a fall date...Montreal may be iffy weatherwise in the fall.

 

Not to go too far off the thread ranch but like Tony George or not... How would you feel to own a place like the Indy Motor Speedway and have CART tell you that you could not run any other races there except for their own one race; the Indy 500? As grand a race as it is, it takes nothing away from it to have other series compete on the same track. Maintain a facility like that for one race a year? Crazy. Tony did what needed to be done and CART should have removed their heads from their collective arses to begin with..... 2cents

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread..lol

 

From post #23 of this thread...

 

If I remember correctly, I paid 80 bucks for an awesome grandstand seat at Indy in 2006. Beer was reasonable, food was great, people were terrific and hotels were cheap (considering). Had an awesome time and couldn't believe the value.

 

MotoGP headed to Austin GP track in 2013?

By STEVEN COLE SMITH on 4/07/2011

If well-placed sources in Europe are correct, the MotoGP motorcycle world championship series will move its U.S. venue from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the new Formula One track under construction in Austin, Texas, probably in 2013.

Formula One United States and Full Throttle Productions, which are building the Texas track, have scheduled a press conference for April 12, and it is possible they will announce the MotoGP deal then, likely along with a name for the new track. Tavo Hellmund, chairman of F1US and managing partner of Full Throttle, declined to comment when reached by AutoWeek on Wednesday night.

MotoGP has raced at Indianapolis since 2008, with the 2011 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix scheduled for the last weekend in August. The other U.S. MotoGP race is at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California a month earlier. The Austin race is expected to feature the top MotoGP class, as well as the 125-cc and 600-cc Moto2 classes. All three classes run at Indy, but Laguna races only the top MotoGP class, with the rest of the weekend made up of AMA races.

If both Formula One--which has a 10-year contract to race at the Austin facility beginning in 2012--and MotoGP compete at the Austin track, it will place both world-championship series at the same circuit in the United States, which never happened at Indianapolis, as F1--which raced at Indy from 2000 to 2007--ended its deal before MotoGP began in 2008. Indy announced its MotoGP deal on July 16, 2007, one week after F1 announced it would not return for the 2008 season.

The Madrid-based MotoGP is the two-wheel equivalent of F1, currently with an 18-race schedule in 14 countries. The championship is presently contested by riders for Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. The series claimed an attendance of 2.2 million in 2010.

That the Austin track would host motorcycle racing is no surprise, as Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 world champion and winner of 25 Grand Prix motorcycle races, is one of Hellmund's partners and helped advise designer Tilke GmbH on the layout of the 3.4-mile, $200 million track.

Unlike F1, which has no American drivers, the 62-year-old MotoGP series has several U.S. stars, including Ben Spies (Yahama), Colin Edwards (Yamaha), Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and John Hopkins (Suzuki).

Source - Autoweek

 

Austin GP promoters: MotoGP confirmed to join F1 at Circuit of the Americas

Formula One United States and Full Throttle Productions on Tuesday announced the new Grand Prix track's official name, and confirmed that it will host not only F1, but also MotoGP.

F1 U.S. and FTP are presently at work building the Austin, Texas, road course that is set to host F1's U.S. Grand Prix in 2012. Tuesday marked their first major press conference of the year. As predicted on autoweek.com last week, the track is scheduled to host MotoGP motorcycle races, beginning in 2013. Austin will apparently become the third U.S. venue on MotoGP's schedule, joining Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The contract with both F1 and MotoGP is for 10 years.

The other big news item is that the 20-turn, 3.4-mile track now has a name--Circuit of the Americas.

The press conference, held at a city-owned conventional hall just south of downtown Austin, included a collection of area politicians, as well as representatives of local businesses. Track officials saved their confirmation of the MotoGP race until the end, when 1993 MotoGP champion Kevin Schwantz joined project chairman Tavo Hellmund onstage with one of Schwantz's motorcycles. The news that the Circuit of the Americas will host motorcycle racing comes as no surprise, as Schwantz has been involved in the project since it began.

“We are delighted to be adding the Circuit of the Americas to the MotoGP calendar,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports. “It's an honor to expand our championship to Texas, which has a rich history of producing world championship riders. We have had a wonderful and special relationship with Kevin [Schwantz] for 20 years and often talked about a mutual dream of increasing the popularity of MotoGP in the U.S. and raising our already successful worldwide profile. Now, with what Tavo Hellmund is doing in Austin, we have realized that situation and are looking forward to this new venture together. The 10-year agreement is a sign of our confidence and commitment to the future success of MotoGP racing in Austin.”

Hellmund said, “We are extremely pleased to add the best motorcycle world championship to our annual schedule. This is a fantastic opportunity for the State of Texas and this region, and I believe it is the first time in American motorsports history that both the cars and the motorbikes world championships are held at the same facility annually. We are very proud of becoming the United States' international facility for motorsports.

“Kevin [Schwantz] and I have been close friends for a long time, and I enjoy a great relationship with Carmelo. I respect so much what [Dorna] and the FIM have done for MotoGP globally. It's going to be great for the state. The product is fantastic and you never know, we may even have a reigning Texan in Ben Spies as world champion for our first event. That would be icing on the cake.”

Schwantz added, “For me this is a dream come true, that the FIM MotoGP world championship will be in my home state of Texas. I am such a believer in the sport and know how popular motorcycling is in Texas. I am sure that this will be a resounding long term success.”

MotoGP has raced at Indianapolis since 2008, with this year's Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix scheduled for the last weekend in August. The Austin race will feature the top MotoGP class, as well as the 125-cc and 600-cc Moto2 classes. All three classes run at Indy, but Laguna hosts only MotoGP, with the rest of the weekend made up of American Motorcycle Association races.

When F1--which has a 10-year contract to race at the Austin facility beginning next year--and MotoGP do compete at the track, this will, in fact, place both world-championship series at the same circuit in the United States, which never happened at Indianapolis. F1--which raced at Indy from 2000 to 2007--ended its deal with the Speedway before MotoGP arrived in 2008. Indy announced its MotoGP race on July 16, 2007, one week after F1 announced that it would not return for the 2008 season. But on Tuesday, Indy issued a statement in support of the Austin deal.

“We're pleased to learn of the addition of another MotoGP event to the United States,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. president and CEO . “This can only help elevate the profile in America of this thrilling form of motorsport, which will benefit all existing MotoGP races in this country and enhance the global prestige of the world championship. We're committed to the growth of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP and motorcycle road racing in the United States.”

Madrid, Spain-based MotoGP currently has an 18-race schedule in 14 countries. The championship is contested by riders for Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. The series claimed an attendance of 2.2 million in 2010. Unlike F1, which has no American drivers, the 62-year-old MotoGP series has several U.S. stars, including Spies (Yahama), Colin Edwards (Yamaha), Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and John Hopkins (Suzuki).

Hellmund, who used to race formula cars in Europe as well as in a NASCAR-sanctioned series in the States, said the Circuit of the Americas is in talks with multiple other series--some U.S.-based and some from outside the country--that are interested in holding events at the track. One candidate is the American Le Mans Series--CEO Scott Atherton, in an exclusive interview with AutoWeek on April 11, said he believes the track would be “a good fit” for the sports-car series. Rival sports-car series Grand-Am reportedly is weighing a possible street race in Galveston, and if that happens, it seems unlikely that Grand-Am would want two races in the central part of Texas.

The Izod IndyCar Series also seems a possibility, but there are rumblings from Indianapolis that some within IndyCar might not be eager to support a facility that has now essentially replaced IMS on the F1 calendar.

Following the press conference, officials hosted media members for a tour of the track, which is under construction near the village of Elroy, just southeast of Austin. A startling amount of work has been done to the 900-acre site since builders began moving dirt at the end of December, seven months after the project was announced, at which time the 900-acre site was almost covered completely with scrub brush and small mesquite trees.

Hellmund agreed that the project--which was budgeted at $200 million but seems likely to exceed that--is on an ambitious time schedule to be ready for its first F1 race in 2012 but insisted it is achievable. If the track isn't ready in time, organizers would have to pay a penalty, which has happened with other tracks, including Korea last year. But Hellmund said that isn't in the plans, as suggested by the amount of construction equipment at work on the site.

Now, talk is likely to turn to when the inaugural F1 race will fall on the series' 2012 calendar. It likely will be at least October before F1 announces its official 2012 schedule, but speculation is that the Austin race could be held immediately before or after the F1 race in Montreal, Canada, which traditionally runs in June. Any later than that, and the Austin race would face the often sweltering summer temperatures. Not forgotten is the July 8, 1984, F1 race in Dallas, where driver Nigel Mansell's Lotus ran out of fuel near the end. Mansell tried to push his car across the finish line before passing out in the 100-degree heat. It also seems possible that the FIA could pair the Austin race with the season-ending event in Brazil in late fall.

Source - Autoweek