Formula 1 to return to USA in 2012. Purpose built facility in Austin Texas.

[EJ25RUN]

US Grand Prix returns to F1 in 2012

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, May 25th 2010, 17:26 GMT

The United States Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2012 after a deal was struck for a race to be held in Austin, Texas.

Following weeks of speculation about the potential return of a race in America, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced on Tuesday night that the event will take place from 2012 to 2021 on a new purpose-built facility in Austin.

Ecclestone said: "For the first time in the history of Formula 1 in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event.

"It was thirty years ago that the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix was last held on a purpose-built permanent road course circuit in Watkins Glen, NY (1961-1980), which enjoyed great success.

"Since then, F1 has been hosted by Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix all on temporary street circuits. Indianapolis joined the ranks of host cities in 2000 when they added a road course inside the famed oval.

"Lewis Hamilton won the last F1 United States Grand Prix in 2007, signalling the end to eight years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This however, will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for F1 in the US."

The deal with Ecclestone has been put together by promoters Full Throttle Productions, and its managing partner Tavo Hellmund.

Speaking about the deal, which comes after speculation of events in New Jersey and New York State, Hellmund said: "This is a case of the right timing in the right place. As many Americans know, Austin has earned a reputation as one of the 'it' cities in the United States.

"We are extremely honoured and proud to reach an agreement with the F1 Commercial Rights Holder. We have been diligently working together for several years to bring this great event to Austin, the State of Texas and back to the United States. All parties involved have a great amount of trust and confidence in each other and are committed to establishing the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas as a prestigious global event."

No details have yet emerged about the track layout, or whereabouts in Austin the venue will be built.







I hope for their sake this won't be a Hermann Tilke designed track. Indy was never interesting and even places like Detroit's street circuit were more challenging circuits to the driver.

1983 Detroit lap with Eddie Cheever in the Renault RE40 (1300 HP+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE13zilzvXE

[Elbow]

Hmmmm......I guess it has potential to be a success but I'd love to see them just run a track with history.

I'm buying tickets though.

[David88vert]

Last time I went through Austin, it didn't seem to have the infrastructure needed to host an international event like an F1 race.

[EJ25RUN]

To be honest, i don't want them ruining American race courses the way they have certain European tracks to make them "produce better racing" when they never ever do. Fast tracks produce good racing. Even places like Road America would be considered unsafe so I'd rather they try something different instead of modifying it. I'd like to learn more about who's organizing this because it feels to much like a pipe dream.


Last time I went through Austin, it didn't seem to have the infrastructure needed to host an international event like an F1 race.

I see what you mean. I don't know enough about the area but i hate it when businesses try to hold events this big because they fall apart. Remember USF1?

[e30pwr]

if this ever really comes through, i'm there.

[Apex1972]

me too

[JennB]

Austin hosts an annual music festival that I have attended and will attend again this year with about 65-75K people for three days. Every years I've been, it's been great. No problems because of volume. I love Austin. Some F1 races are larger than that, some are not. I would guess one in the US would be about that level of attendance. Austin is a smart city, very green, home to a large (40-45K student) university, I don't think they will try to host something they don't have the capacity for.

When I go for the festival, I don't even drive. They use the buses, which are really nice btw, from the campus to shuttle everyone to and from the festival site. You wait just a few minutes and it's pretty easy.

Dell is also headquartered there with 10,000 employees.

Hopefully they can get a good track design, build it and really make it happen. I'd love to see F1 back in the US.

[David88vert]

The 2007 Canadian F1 race sold out at 120,000.

2009 MotoGP Indianapolis - 3 days: 146,680. Sunday, 75,130
2006 MotoGP Laguna Seca - 3 days: 151,000. Saturday, 48,500; Sunday, 51,000
2005 MotoGP Laguna Seca - 3 days: 153,653. Friday, 40,520; Saturday, 55,201; Sunday, 57,932

I don't think that Austin has ever held an event with that much attendance.

[EJ25RUN]

The 2007 Canadian F1 race sold out at 120,000.

2009 MotoGP Indianapolis - 3 days: 146,680. Sunday, 75,130
2006 MotoGP Laguna Seca - 3 days: 151,000. Saturday, 48,500; Sunday, 51,000
2005 MotoGP Laguna Seca - 3 days: 153,653. Friday, 40,520; Saturday, 55,201; Sunday, 57,932

I don't think that Austin has ever held an event with that much attendance.

About those numbers,

In 2005 and 2006, Nicky Hayden was winning the races and Indy doesn't have problems finding a crowd. Even though today's F1 is in the best state I've seen it since 2000, i don't know if enough Americans care. I'm still on the fence about this place. Especially if it means a REAL track has to lose its F1 event.

[David88vert]

In 2005, Laguna Seca was Nicky Hayden's 1st GP win. I was there at the race.
In 2006, it was either his 2nd or 3rd win only.

The Indy 500 is Sunday. It's not F1, but it will still draw a sizeable crowd.

[JennB]

The Indy 500 is estimated to be about or more than 1/4 of a million people in attendance. It's the largest single day event in the world. (I use to live in Indy) The Speedway doesn't release official numbers but the place will hold something like 300,000 people. I think it hold more if you count infield.

I still don't see it as that much of a stretch. I don't think Austin would go for the chance if they couldn't do it. I just hope it happens and doesn't fall apart like the US F1 team.

[EJ25RUN]

Tilke to design new Austin circuit

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, May 27th 2010, 07:55 GMT


Herman TilkeThe new Austin Formula 1 track, which will host the American Grand Prix from 2012, is to be designed by Hermann Tilke, race organisers have announced.

Shortly after revealing its 10-year deal to hold the US event, Austin race promoters Full Throttle Productions have now earmarked a site for the circuit and confirmed that Tilke will be involved.

The exact location of the venue has not been disclosed, but Tavo Hellmund, managing partner of Full Throttle Productions, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press that its was 'more than 700 acres.'

Hellmund also ended speculation about who would design the track by confirming that F1 regular Tilke, the man behind track designs at Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Shanghai, and Sepang, will be involved.

Race promoters said the track would be "one of the finest permanent road course facilities in the world. Fans should expect the craftsmanship Tilke is famous for, with a priority placed on green building and a track similar to the great grand prix tracks of previous generations."





I really hate him. This is just another opportunity for an F1 facility to look like an amusement park instead of a proper circuit. Why can't Herman "Boring" Tilky just leave?
"Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Shanghai, and Sepang" Wooptee dooo. Flat tracks with long straights that are all basically stop and go circuits. Istanbul's turn 8 is the only thing he ever did right. In the last 10 years, the best GPs take place at circuits that have been on the calender for decades. His tracks produce fans wanting to watch other sports.
Really, how do any of his tracks compare to Spa, Monaco, Monza, Silverstone, Montreal, and Suzuka? Even Melbourne produces ridiculous action even tough it is a temporary track.
Since i began following F1 more than ten years ago, Tilke's tracks feel like speedbumps on the tour. In his time, Imola was taken off the calender and Germany has to make the decision of Hockenheim or the Nurburgring when they both have the credentials to be on there.

I really hope Bernie retires soon because i'm sick of F1 being a hedge fund and forgetting what the fans want. All Bernie has done is ensure his Tv times are good for Europe but not shown any concern over the crowds these foreign tracks produce. Herman Tilke circuits are part of that problem since they produce such boring races.


In 2005, Laguna Seca was Nicky Hayden's 1st GP win. I was there at the race.
In 2006, it was either his 2nd or 3rd win only.

The Indy 500 is Sunday. It's not F1, but it will still draw a sizeable crowd.

I was agreeing with you. I made the point that both of those races had good incentive for U.S. fans to want to be there.

[Elbow]

Exactly what I was afraid of. FML.

[Oz10]

In 2005, Laguna Seca was Nicky Hayden's 1st GP win. I was there at the race.
In 2006, it was either his 2nd or 3rd win only.

The Indy 500 is Sunday. It's not F1, but it will still draw a sizeable crowd.

I was at the USGP in 2005. I was so happy when Nicky won

[Andy_013]

Site of the Texas F1 track is revealed...


http://www.statesman.com/business/future-f1-site-revealed-825045.html

[Elbow]

I am still waiting for the layout design, the site looks like it could have potential but it's going to be a modern day concrete arena I'm sure. I'd love to see more of a classic road course layout aka windy rolling hills and corners, there can still be grandstands and all of course it's F1 there has to be but I don't want more entertainment only focused tracks.

[alpine_aw11]

Imo they should run RA so I can actually see a f1 race in person.

[Elbow]

Oh I'm going to this one, Indy was lame.

If they did RA they'd have to change EVERYTHING about the track. lol

[88NaCivic]

Will be there!! Wont miss this 1 .. I'm ready for the layout myself