May 27, 2010

  • United States Grand Prix

    F1 set for US return

    Tuesday 25th May 2010

     
    F1 set for US return

    F1 set for US return

     

    Bernie Ecclestone announced on Tuesday that Austin will host the United States Grand Prix in a new deal which is due to commence in 2012.

    Formula One’s commercial rights controller said the Texas state capital would stage the race for 10 years until 2021 on a purpose-built track.

    “For the first time in the history of Formula One in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event,” Ecclestone told the official formula1.com website.

    “This…will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for Formula One in the US,” he added.

    F1 has not visited the United States since 2007, when McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won the final grand prix to be staged at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    Since that deal ended, Ecclestone has been searching for an alternative with the knowledge that teams, manufacturers and sponsors alike were keen to return to one of their largest markets.

    Cities such as Phoenix, Detroit, Las Vegas, Long Beach and Austin’s near-neighbour Dallas have all hosted races over the years with varying degrees of success.

    The last purpose-built road course to stage the race, however, was the Watkins Glen track in New York state in 1980.

    Indianapolis, where the United States Grand Prix was held for eight years, used part of the speedway together with a specially-built infield course.

    “We are extremely honoured and proud to reach an agreement with the F1 Commercial Rights Holder,” said Tavo Hellmund, the managing partner of Austin-based race promoters Full Throttle Productions.

    “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.”

    He added: “This is a case of the right timing in the right place.

    “Austin features that rare combination of ideal geographic location and beauty. Its fine dining, world-renowned hospitality and excellent transportation infrastructure make Austin ideally suited to host and manage an event of this magnitude.

    “Few cities if any in America could rival the connectivity of all the key elements needed for hosting a Formula One event as well as Austin.”

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