F1 Coming to .... TX!!

Steve · Oct 3, 2011

Questions raised over US Grand Prix future (gpupdate.net)

Question marks have been raised over the future of the United States Grand Prix, which is set to return to the Formula 1 calendar next year. According to the Austin Statesman newspaper, work at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas has slowed due to a possible change related to the promoters and management at the Texas track.

The first American F1 race since 2007 is set to be staged on the new, purpose-built circuit in November 2012, with funding being provided by the State of Texas and figures estimated at $250 million (Â£161m) for the period of a decade.

However, it is now being reported that race promoter Tavo Hellmund has been in contact with state Comptroller (financial officer) Susan Combs in order to check whether any change in management or promoters would jeopardise the circuitâ€™s eligibility for collecting the necessary funds, which would ensure a positive upkeep for the venue.

In a letter from Combs to F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, the Comptroller is believed to have stated that major investors â€“ such as billionaire Red McCombs â€“ have not secured rights to hold the race. It is also alleged that Combs has written to Ecclestone in order to discuss a proposed transfer of the contractual rights from Hellmundâ€™s company to Circuit of the Americas â€“ the group which includes the aforementioned investors such as McCombs.

â€˜Should the proposed assignment be consummated, the State of Texas, through this agency, looks forward to working with the Circuit of the Americas to bring the Formula One United States Grand Prix to Texas in 2012,â€™ reads the letter from the State Comptroller to Ecclestone, as quoted by the Austin Statesman.
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Minidave · Oct 3, 2011

I've been wondering why they haven't updated the videos of the work on the track for the last few months.....maybe there hasn't been any?

Steve · Oct 5, 2011

Minidave said: ↑

I've been wondering why they haven't updated the videos of the work on the track for the last few months.....maybe there hasn't been any?
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Construction work resumes at Texas F1 circuit (gpupdate.net)

Tuesday saw construction work recommence at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, which is set to be home of the returning Unites States Grand Prix in November 2012. The recent delay has been linked to questions over the future ownership and state funding for the $300 million (Â£195m) facility.

â€œWe just started back today,â€ Max Chapman, Construction Manager for the project, explained to the Austin Statesman newspaper, which also reports that two heavy pieces of equipment were transported to the venue on Tuesday and that another 19 are set to arrive later this week.

The comeback of a Formula 1 race in the USA will mark the first event in the country since Lewis Hamilton celebrated a second career victory at Indianapolis in 2007.
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minimark · Oct 5, 2011

Good news!!!

.....sure wish Bama had invested our $500 million in this instead of Solyndra. We could have had an F1 track paid for in Texas and $200 million left over.....could have put that on the national debt maybe......

Zapski · Oct 5, 2011

minimark said: ↑

Good news!!!

.....sure wish Bama had invested our $500 million in this instead of Solyndra. We could have had an F1 track paid for in Texas and $200 million left over.....could have put that on the national debt maybe......
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Ha! I think we can find some bipartisan agreement there.

Hmmm.... F1 as a fix to our national problems? Speed Party anyone?

Steve · Oct 13, 2011

Visit To Circuit Of The Americas: Construction to Renew Soon (motorauthority.com)

by Anne Proffitt | October 13, 2011
Construction activity at the troubled Circuit of the Americas outside Austin, TX appears to be happening again. A visit this past Monday, Columbus Day, revealed trucks lined up and stabilizer dirt available for placement.

That Monday there was no work in progress because the area had just received a much-needed dose of rain - but with dry weather in the forecast, they expected to be running the next day.

The 3.4-mile Grand Prix road course is comprised of 12 turns and has a first turn with both a great, climbing elevation change and decreasing radius that certainly looks challenging. At this point, we've been told they're getting the infield done first - and in fact an earth mover started rumbling down the first turn toward the infield as we watched.

The State of Texas is contributing money to the endeavor that's expected to cost about $300 million all told. The city is committed, too, hoping the Austin city experience brings people back for, say, the 2013 MotoGP, once the first Formula One race is in the books.

The track is, to put it bluntly, remote at best and there are no four-star hotels within 15 miles. A single-lane road leads into the circuit; there are freeways five minutes away on a good day.

Everyone at the circuit is, of course very upbeat about the project. While they recognize that the FIA requires a 90-day blessing on their circuit, at this time the expectation is to pour the first asphalt in springtime, even though a minimum 90-day cure is necessary.

The jury's still out on Circuit of the Americas, Formula One's new home in the United States. Whether it flies or not depends on the activity monitor over the coming few months, which will determine its readiness for the biggest racing show in the world.

Â© 2011 Anne Proffit
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Firebro17 · Oct 14, 2011

In the end they (F1) will have wished they had come to Laguna Seca. Texas sounds great on the surface, but I can't help but think how much nicer the venue is and support services are here out west.

Best'a luck!

minimark · Oct 14, 2011

All about the market, what Austin had to offer and the breaks they would get..... and I'm sure they had an eye on NASCAR'S success in Texas too.

Nathan · Oct 14, 2011

IndyCar does well in TX too.

Plus...It's very close to Mexico and with Sergio Perez as a driver you know that was a thought too. Add in that Carlos Slim is interested in F1. Being he has about $74 billion in his pocket you just know Bernie is scheming on how a few of those billions can fly into his pockets.

minimark · Oct 14, 2011

Speaking of Bernie, I'm sure his delicate ego much prefers a track purpose built for F1 and not some other's lowly attempt at adapting to his/F1's needs....

PS: Very true about Indycar Nathan, may be just about the only other permanent circuit here in America that they enjoy a sizable attendance, other than Indy itself of course.

Firebro17 · Oct 15, 2011

You can't get any closer to Mexico than the Salinas Valley.

Lowley?

Steve · Nov 3, 2011

Austin receives planning permission for grandstand (gpupdate.net)

3 November 2011

Austinâ€™s Circuit of the Americas, home of the returning United States Grand Prix, has received planning permission for a selection of significant structures at the brand-new, Hermann Tilke-designed Formula 1 venue. This includes the Main Grandstand, in accordance with the latest report from the Austin Statesman newspaper.

The permits have come from Travis County, with one year now remaining until the countryâ€™s first F1 event since Indianapolis played host to a Lewis Hamilton victory in 2007. Authorisation has now been granted for not only the grandstand, but also the pit building, media centre and medical centre.

In 2013, the USA will welcome a second event as the New Jersey street circuit becomes scene of the Grand Prix of America.
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Minidave · Nov 3, 2011

Intersting...they finally got permits to build, and in the meantime those buildings are already being erected in New Jersey, where they only announced the track a few weeks ago.

goaljnky · Nov 3, 2011

Minidave said: ↑

Intersting...they finally got permits to build, and in the meantime those buildings are already being erected in New Jersey, where they only announced the track a few weeks ago.
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Well, I don't know if you're aware who runs the construction and concrete business in NJ, but I assure you they have a way to get around the red tape. :devil:

Steve · Nov 4, 2011

Hermann Tilke says construction of Austin circuit is on schedule (autosport.com)

By Jonathan Noble | Friday, November 4th 2011, 10:52 GMT

Formula 1 track designer Hermann Tilke says that construction work at the new Circuit of the Americas track in Texas is on schedule, as he dismissed any suggestion that building work was running late.

Speculation about the United States Grand Prix venue surfaced in India last weekend when sources revealed that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had told teams there were some questions marks about it hosting the race in 2012.

Although Ecclestone later revealed that his fears were based more on issues inside the promotional company than on the track being ready in time, that did not stop questions about the building progress.

However, in the same week that the Austin venue got the go-ahead from local bodies to being construction work on the five major buildings - including the main grandstands and pit buildings - Tilke has also made it clear he is happy with progress.

"We are working on it," he told AUTOSPORT. "There are a couple of hundred workers on the site, a lot of machines, and everything is on schedule up to now."

Tilke is excited about the potential of the layout of the Austin track, which he believes will benefit from the kind of gradients that made the new Buddh track in India such a hit last weekend.

"In Austin we have had the advantage that we have some natural elevation and some hills which we could use," he explained. "It is going to be very fast."

As well as working on the new Austin track, which is due to hold its inaugural grand prix next November, Tilke is also helping out with the New Jersey GP venue that will be added to the schedule in 2013.

Although he is limited in design scope there, because it is in a city, he believes the track will be good for F1.

"It is a pure road track, a street circuit," he said. "We will have to take what is there, but it will be really fantastic."
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Steve · Nov 4, 2011

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImp-oJmsfQ]Circuit of the Americas Teaser Trailer - YouTube[/ame]

Steve · Nov 4, 2011

Some recent construction photos here.

Couple overhead shots:

Steve · Nov 12, 2011

Austin GP looks doubtful, says Ecclestone (Reuters via eurosport.yahoo.com)

Sat, 12 Nov 12:50:00 2011

Next year's scheduled U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, is looking doubtful, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Saturday.

However, he said the controversial Bahrain Grand Prix, cancelled for this year due to civil unrest, was solid for 2012.

"Austin? I wouldn't want to put my money down that that will happen. I hope it will and we are doing our best to make it happen, but I wouldn't want to say yes," he told Reuters at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"For New York (in 2013), no problem at all."

The 81-year-old said the problem with the Austin race came down to a clash between the parties involved in building the circuit and promoting the race.

"What's happened is you've got a guy that owns the land and started building and there's the guy that owns the company and has got a contract with us. And they forgot to talk to each other," he said.

"The truth of the matter is maybe the people that have put the money down are perhaps a bit pissed off that he's getting some publicity and they are not and are saying 'we've got our money on the line, you haven't got any money on the line.'

"They are trying to get it together. I've said 'you guys have got to fall in love. Get married'."

Bahrain is scheduled for April 22 next year but many in Formula One are doubtful about the likelihood of that happening.

"We believe there's no problem, it's on the calendar and we are going to be there," said Ecclestone.
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minimark · Nov 12, 2011

Reassuring words from the great Bernie....

.....sure wish I had stock in the Austin GP......not.

Nathan · Nov 14, 2011

Autoweek has a really good article on how all this is going down in Austin.

See U.S. Grand Prix in Austin: Time to connect the dots

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