Austin: A Circuit Worth 3 Billion

While the land of Uncle Sam and Formula 1 had parted ways after a crushing failure, motorsport fans had since considered the USA as a distant land where only the supercharged cars of the IZOD Indycar Series and NASCAR could compete on circuits. Since the beginning of the year, there had been rumors of a renewed interest from F1 in the United States, with a tentative agreement reached between Bernie Ecclestone and a consortium to propose a race near New York. The idea of a return to the USA was thus agreed upon, but the choice of race location has since changed. Indeed, it is Texas, specifically the city of Austin, that has met the numerous demands of F1’s chief financial officer. The project’s organizers and the event promoter, Tavo Hellmund, have promised fans and drivers that the new United States Grand Prix circuit would be one of the most challenging and spectacular in the world.

Hellmund, who committed to hosting the first race in 2012, revealed that the circuit would break the mold of modern F1 by offering the best sections from the world’s most selective tracks: I would say that people will see in this circuit a return to the roots worthy of the old glorious tracks, but of course with the current FIA safety features and requirements…. It will be a track that drivers will study and think: “Man, I’m going to have to be at my best today!!!”

Tavo Hellmund specifies that the final details of the chosen location for the track will be published shortly, and that the final layout should be made public in the coming weeks. He also states that he is truly excited by what he has seen in the plans drawn up by Hermann Tilke, the appointed designer of the new circuits: “There will be a really fast section, but also very difficult turns. I admire some sections of the circuit that I saw at Silverstone, you might find them on this new track. There will also be a very significant elevation change, probably more than 30 meters of elevation difference. There will be beautiful views, and I think the starting area will resemble those of the tracks that have been built recently. So, in that regard, I am excited.”

He adds: Americans, just like the people of Texas, will be proud of this track because it won’t be a cookie-cutter circuit.

Hellmund acknowledges that one of his priorities is to ensure that the drivers will love the venue, as it will be a crucial element in making this race a real success: When you analyze the situation closely, you realize that the drivers should be your best endorsement. They are the ones who speak out and everyone wants to hear what they have to say. So, I think that between access to the site, the chosen location, and obviously the quality of the asphalt, I think we are going to be good.

Hellmund also reacted to Bernie Ecclestone’s recent comments, who wanted to be optimistic about the financing of the event: «With all due respect, I think it’s interesting to note that the financing is nobody’s business but mine. However, I can tell you this, the group we have assembled is world-class. Some of them are well-known but will not appear in public because their privacy and anonymity are part of the transaction… But I can tell you that Mr. Ecclestone would not have committed to an agreement if he were not satisfied with the financial arrangement.»

Regarding the various rumors of financial arrangements or facilities granted by Texas Governor Rick Perry, Hellmund aims to be transparent: “I want to be clear about what Texas has done because there are many misconceptions. This state has not subsidized anything. The only thing that was done in favor of the creation of this circuit is the adoption of a law similar to that for the Super Bowl. Namely, a law that distributes the tax on income from sales related to this event. Thus, some media in Texas have tried to portray this as a subsidy request, but it is purely invented.”

To conclude, the promoter of the future United States Grand Prix wants the public to be aware of the importance of such an event: «We are very happy with this situation because it places Texas on the same level as the world’s biggest events, the Olympic Games, the Superbowl, and the World Cup. What is certain is that no one would have accepted such a project if anyone had thought it would be a bit dull.»

It is evident that everyone is eagerly awaiting the first model of this circuit, which could combine the Variante Ascari and Curva Parabolica of Monza, the Eau Rouge Raidillon of Spa, Suzuka’s Spoon, the Senna S’s of Interlagos, the Corkscrew of Laguna Seca, turns #1 #2 and #3 of Sepang, the triple Apex turn #8 of Istanbul, the Copse turn and the Maggots Becketts Chapel section of Silverstone, the casino corner and turns #14 and #15 ‘Bienvenue au Québec’ of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal, all of this topped off with a typically US-style Progressive Banking with an initial angle of 24° going up to 30° at the top of the track, thus ensuring spectacle with a high trajectory offering a top-speed advantage. This exhaustive list only mentions a few ideas as numerous circuits worldwide are iconic references. But it must be acknowledged that having such sections gathered in a single circuit would be wonderful for drivers and spectators alike. To give a true taste of authenticity to this made-in-USA circuit, we could find a starting line like in Indianapolis with the Yard of Bricks, an area still without asphalt just covered with original bricks, which all drivers dream of kissing as tradition dictates.

Years ago, a person stood up and spoke these words: “I have a dream.” It just goes to show that you can always dream, even in F1.