2012 USGP in Austin, Texas

According to Autosport's Jon Noble, there will be a USGP in 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Quite a surprising and fascinating development, it will be interesting to find out more.


EDIT: Confirmed: [www.formula1.com]

Its good to see that it will be at a permanent track. America has some of the best of these in the world, so hopefully they can create something half-decent. For recent tracks, maybe the designers of Miller or Barber could be a good start.

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X (@ed24f1)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/2010 07:36PM by SchueyFan.

good stuff. The US is an important market really, and it's good for the world championship to get back to the US. Let's just hope they build a decent track! Are there any hills around Austin Texas??

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Team Japan Owner - GPGNC

Got to say, the early signs for this are very promising. A new purpose-built track in an excellent location, and hopefully Tilke won't be having any say in its design!

@Harj - I'm sure they can create artificial gradient if they want.

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I read this article on a Globo.com's blog, and, although I'm not at all into what happens in the US, I feel there's truth in it. Perhaps Dave could say more.

Here it is, Google-translated: [translate.google.com.br]

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Um dois três quatro cinco seis sete oito nove dez
Eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun zehn
One two three four five six seven eight nine ten
Один два три четыре пять шесть семь восемь девять десять

If I someday move to the US, Austin would be probably one of the main cities that I'd choose. I think it's a very good choice

Yeeee Haw!!!

Monza972 Wrote:
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> Yeeee Haw!!!


No. Austin is a different world compared to the rest of Texas. University of Texas is there, really good school, there's a great music scene, and it's regarded as one of the leading "green" cities in the US. Certainly an interesting possibility for a GP.

loren Wrote:
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> Monza972 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yeeee Haw!!!
>
>
> No. Austin is a different world compared to the
> rest of Texas. University of Texas is there,
> really good school, there's a great music scene,
> and it's regarded as one of the leading "green"
> cities in the US. Certainly an interesting
> possibility for a GP.

I know it's different, but Texas just makes you want to say Yeeee Haw!!!

I've been in Austin twice, I can say that it is a great location for a Formula 1 race track.
Hopefully they will create a great layout ... if they do, I would definetely visit Texas again

Thanks GP3Hotlaps

@EC83, they didn't bother for any of the recent tracks - eg abu dhabi, so why would they bother for Austin.

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Team Japan Owner - GPGNC

harjinator Wrote:
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> @EC83, they didn't bother for any of the recent
> tracks - eg abu dhabi, so why would they bother
> for Austin.

Because Mr Tilke hopefully won't be designing the track.

I was personally hoping they would use Monticello. But hey, this is interesting and hopefully will be a great addition to the US GP scene.

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Order a giffgaff SIM from my link and get £5 credit, free!
Season 1 and Season 3 GPGSL World Champion!
Member of CTDP - Cars Tracks Development Program - 3D Carshaper

harjinator Wrote:
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> @EC83, they didn't bother for any of the recent
> tracks - eg abu dhabi, so why would they bother
> for Austin.


There actually is some elevation change at Abu Dhabi, but not that much, or in the right parts.

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X (@ed24f1)

it's there for the sake of it at Abu Dhabi, rather than to create any sort of atmosphere or "look" or cool experience for the drivers. was watching the classic F1 on the red button earlier and the race from the mid-80's at Brands Hatch looked awesome with F1 cars going up and down the hills and turns.

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RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael

It's why we need Portimão, for the sake of change.

Looking forward to what they come up with, but I don't like the idea of purpose built facilities now days. Too much tarmac, open space and lack of character. Hopefully Tilke won't have a say and they'll bring in some mad bastard American to design it.

Unlike the rest of the world, America seems to have managed to build some new tracks in the last decade or so without destroying the character to satisfy safety concerns. Miller Motorsport Park, Barber Motorsport Park, Thunderbolt Raceway, Thunderhill Raceway.





Thunderhill is pretty badass.

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and you need grass and gravel run-offs to keep the drivers honest.

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RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael

harjinator Wrote:
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> @EC83, they didn't bother for any of the recent
> tracks - eg abu dhabi, so why would they bother
> for Austin.

As said already, hopefully somebody different will be designing this one and Tilke won't be allowed to interfere with it. I was thinking along the lines of the Algarve track - another one Tilke had nothing to do with, strangely enough - and the elevation changes going on there. They wouldn't have to be quite that extreme, of course, but it all helps.

Dave, Thunderhill definitely looks damn sexy - like a grown-up version of Knockhill in parts.


Muks_C Wrote:
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> and you need grass and gravel run-offs to keep the
> drivers honest.

Yeah, and a bit of gradient in said run-offs doesn't hurt either IMO. Cars dig in that much easier when going uphill; remember the run-offs at the A1-Ring.
I would've thought the increased slowing effect would outweigh any danger of grass/gravel flipping cars on the gradient, anyway.

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The scenery at Thunderhill looks like some funky mix between Zandvoort, Knockhill (the hill) and the IoM TT course (when going up the mountain).

Layout very much reminds me of the old Zandvoort too.

Edit: Tilke likes his tracks flat as it allows spectators to see more of the circuit from any given point. You can't question he's a cracking designer of everything away from the track layout.

Still, he should take a look at Knockhill, while it's small, you can see 80% of the track from 80% of the spectator spots - it's stunning for watching racing... when it's not wet... which it has been at some point every time I've been there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2010 11:40PM by gav.

Just in case anyone cares, the FIA track regulations are here

[Website]

loren Wrote:
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> there's a great music scene,

...and you will know them by the trail of dead, pour example!