Texas agrees deal to host F1

Reuters - Tue, 25 May 21:05:00 2010

Formula One will return to the United States in 2012 with a 10-year deal for a race in the Texas state capital Austin, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has announced.

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"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," the Briton told the F1 website.

Austin, the 15th largest city in the United States, will host the race until 2021.

"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, LP.

"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."

The United States last hosted an F1 race at Indianapolis in 2007, a grand prix won by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Since that deal ended, Ecclestone has been seeking an alternative venue with teams, car manufacturers and sponsors all keen to return to one of their biggest markets.

Recent speculation had focused mainly on venues near New York, a possible return to Las Vegas, or circuits in California and Florida.

Williams F1 chief executive Adam Parr welcomed the announcement.

"Well done, Bernie," he told Reuters. "He promised he'd find a great race for us in the States and this is excellent news.

"We are a global sport and not having a race in America has been a big hole in the calendar," added Parr, whose team's title sponsor is US telecommunications giant AT&T.

"Our partners and prospective partners will be thrilled. It's a giant step forwards."

Numerous other US circuits have hosted races over the years, including the Texas city of Dallas in 1984 which held it on a temporary street course.

Watkins Glen in New York state was the last purpose-built permanent road course to host the race in 1980. The race at Indianapolis used a part of the famed oval, with a section cutting across the infield.

"This is a case of the right timing in the right place," said Hellmund.

"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."

Reuters

Comment 94 - 113 of 113

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  1. again, all of us in ny [watkins glen] and ca [long­ beach] have to traverse....grrrrr....
    i have driven to­ indy from ny in 12hrs...but....this is going to be a­ haul...
    cheaper[ca] to fly to suzuka...
    cheaper[ny] to­ go to montreal gp...
    still -austin must prep for a­ 3-400,000 in attendance starting now.
    rock and roll...

    From zipzapdavo, on Thu 27 May 15:44

  2. For those of you that saw my comment about innapropiate­ material put on here by YAHOO before yahoo removed it­ to try & cover it up I have now had a reply from­ YAHOO about my complaint about them asking me to resend­ it useing the report abuse button so they can find­ which of the posts I feel is abusive when I have­ already told them it is in the article itself.

    I­ assume because I have complained about them that they­ are now just going to try & give me the runaround­ until I get sick of it & drop it so now for plan b­ can any of you please tell me to where I can report­ yahoo there must be somebody that complaints about web­ sites can be sent to

    From U R SOLES, on Thu 27 May 14:59

  3. it might mean, bringing possibly the NASCAR Nationwide­ or Camping World truck series or even the IRL Indy­ series in the near future if F1 is a success in Austin

    From Unknown D, on Thu 27 May 13:42

  4. godless mine is sunday & i feel the same way. happy­ b-day! i have three races to choose from on my­ birthday, gonna catch the turkish gp on dvr over­ breakfast, then watch indy live (and probably pi$$­ drunk). have a great weekend everyone.

    From Texas Tifosi, on Thu 27 May 11:32

  5. ellie, neither did i. what does that tell you about­ bernie's decision to come here? im not going to­ ramble on about Texas being te greatest anything or the­ biggest this or that, but i am really happy F1 is­ coming to Texas!

    From Texas Tifosi, on Thu 27 May 11:29

  6. Awesome! Having just moved to DFW, this'll be the­ closest I've lived to an F1 venue. Happy birthday,­ me!!

    From Godless Technoheathen of the Lone Star Republic, on Thu 27 May 10:59

  7. DT you're on. my number is 180K+
    and please, please­ everyone. stay away from hippie hollow. never been­ there, but from what i understand there is nothing­ there anyone wants to see.
    mikeg said one thing right.­ the scarier the place, the better the mexican food. no­ doubt. just try not to butcher the pronunciations too­ badly, dont order "kay-so", and keep your­ eyes on your table. better yet, get it to go. tomorrow,­ go to a good barbecue place. just get the brisket. dont­ try to get fancy. and dont make a funny look if it­ comes on butcher paper instead of a plate.

    From Texas Tifosi, on Thu 27 May 10:37

  8. Just listen to Forza Ferrari he is right about Texas!

    From Davor R, on Thu 27 May 9:31
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    With the US Border patrol cracking down on illegals­ from Mexico, and a large majority of US racing fans­ addicted to that piece of @#$% NASCAR, I estimate­ the 1st race attendence at less than 20,000.

    Post your­ numbers and we'll check back in 2 years.

    From D T, on Thu 27 May 8:34
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hey Russ, what did mum say about my big willy? what­ tasted better my Johnson or her fecal matter?

    From Philly, on Thu 27 May 7:54

  11. Lets hope that they do a better job than they did­ trying to build a US F1 team.

    From Biggles, on Thu 27 May 6:25

  12. I think what Bernie has achieved here is fantastic for­ F1. A showdown in Texas ! I cant wait, brilliant.

    From Robert F1 Ginty, on Thu 27 May 6:22

  13. Texas grand prix? Soon to be named the Sainsburys­ Homebase GP, i know its been a long day...

    From Robert F1 Ginty, on Thu 27 May 6:10

  14. Tell yer summink els annawl....my ole man sed in der­ war yoo woz kakkin yerself mor coz yoo ad der yankies­ behine yer....if yoo dint get a bullit in yer forhed­ from a kraaart yood get wun in der bak ov yer ed from a­ yankie fa`ggot!

    From likewotidun, on Thu 27 May 6:00
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    `Ere....wossawldisabartden?
    A F1 trak in der US....yor­ avin a larf aintcha?
    My ole man sed wotch dem yankies­ dare sun.....dare too bisy takin drugs an bummin each­ uvver!

    From likewotidun, on Thu 27 May 5:54

  16. I never realised that there were so many closet TExans­ :-) as long as it is a good track and not some­ frightful Shaver then what is the problem?

    From Ellie, on Thu 27 May 5:42

  17. @ shaqasorus, that's the kind of backwards­ mentality that prevents economic growth. You have to­ spend a little to get a little. Sometimes you have to­ spend a lot to get a lot. Formula 1 is one of the­ biggest shows on earth if not the biggest. You're­ looking at a tourism and economic boon here. It will­ bring more business and more money to our already­ wonderful city. I say we're lucky to have this land­ in our backyards and we should embrace it and show the­ world that Austin, Texas is a world class city.

    From Nosferatu, on Thu 27 May 5:35

  18. Hey ScottieBoy,
    I'm with you. I love SA and Austin,­ but SA in particular, especially the west side. I live­ in Houston, mainly due to work. Not a pretty city, but­ definitely lots of things to do. However, I try to go­ to the hill country every chance I get. The good thing­ about all the Texas bashing is that it keeps the idiots­ away.
    Don't Mess With Texas.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Thu 27 May 5:34

  19. whoa... wish I'd kept my mouth shut now... well­ I'm sorry I was only making a point. Oh well, if I­ hurry I can get down the dole office before Jeremy Kyle­ starts.
    Oi scottieboy! scottieboy... come back...You­ left your horse tide up round the front. And try not to­ spit tobacco juice all over the carpet, I can't­ afford new ones what with me being on benefits an­ all...

    From David, on Thu 27 May 4:53

  20. Forza Ferrari,

    I'm in San Antonio. SA is our­ favorite in TX with Austin a close second, primarily­ for 6th Street and Hippie Hollow, but the whole vibe is­ very unique, which is why--if this F1 thing truly­ flies--people will dig it.

    We did live on the east­ coast--city will remain unnamed--for three years back­ in the 90's, but came back. All these ignoramii­ commenting on this forum that TX is full of­ beer-swilling, knuckle-dragging rednecks have seen­ NOTHING! NADA!

    And while it would be a special­ pleasure taking you "Texas was stolen from Mexico­ by Whitey" cretins who don't know your butt­ from a hole in the ground to History class, sorry, but­ I gotta go back to work and drop off the board. Keep­ collectin' your unemployment checks in over-spent,­ over-taxed, under-worked wherever you are.

    Late

    From scottieboy, on Thu 27 May 4:24
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