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Formula One returns!! (update track layout pics)

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Old 05-25-10, 12:13 PM
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Thumbs up Formula One returns!! (update track layout pics)

Formula One returns to the United States
Austin, Texas, from the east. The Austin skyline by night, Texas. Austin hill country, Texas. The Austin skyline by day, Texas.

Formula One World Championship Limited and Formula One Administration Limited (together, the F1 Commercial Rights Holder) and Full Throttle Productions, LP, promoter of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™, announce that a historic agreement has been reached for Austin, Texas to serve as the host city of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ for years 2012 through 2021.

"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," stated Tavo Hellmund, Managing Partner of Full Throttle Productions, LP.

Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of the Formula One Group stated: "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. 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, Formula One 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 Formula 1 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 Formula One in the US."

Mr. Hellmund added: "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. 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 1 event as well as Austin. Now, many people around the world will have the opportunity to experience a world-class event, facility and city."

"We are pleased Texas has the opportunity to be involved with Formula 1 and that an event of this magnitude is coming to Austin," said Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. "It has been a pleasure working with Full Throttle Productions, LP and Mr. Hellmund on this project. Their tradition of producing successful major events coupled with a thirty year relationship with Mr. Ecclestone has us looking forward to this worldwide event and the benefits it will bring, including local job creation, increased tourism and a significant economic impact added to our state economy. The visibility and prestige of this event will spotlight our state on an international stage."

Texas Governor Rick Perry conveyed his enthusiasm for the project, explaining "Texas' relatively strong economy continues to draw both national and international attention and I commend Comptroller Combs for her work in bringing this exciting event to the Lone Star State."

City of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell continued the positive sentiments, adding "The City of Austin will be proud to host this magnificent event and I look forward to welcoming the participants and fans of Formula One to our City."

Full Throttle Productions, LP acknowledges with great appreciation the efforts of all parties involved including Bernie Ecclestone, President and CEO of the Formula One Group, and the local and state officials of Texas.

"It has been a shared vision and monumental task to reach this agreement. We realize that over the last 30 years there have been one or two missing pieces from the previous editions of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™. We have a tremendous opportunity at hand to do it right - to feature Austin as the backdrop and produce the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ as one of the great sporting events in the world," stated Hellmund.

In addition to the State of Texas being the 11th strongest economy in the world, it has more Fortune 500 company headquarters than any other state. Key features of Austin include:
- State capital nicknamed 'Silicon Hills' for being one of the most important regions in the US for the Technology Industry;
- USA's 15th largest city and is located 145 miles from Houston (4th largest US city), 70 miles from San Antonio (7th largest US city), and 180 miles from Dallas (8th largest US city), population in this triangle is over 22 million;
- perfectly located geographically for North, South and Central American visitors;
- over 130 daily departing international flights within 180 miles;
- over 250,000 hotel rooms within 180 miles;
- desirable year-round climate, with an average annual temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius);
- geographically located in the Texas Hill Country, easily the most beautiful city in the State, and considered one of the most in the US;
- hotels/downtown/Formula 1 circuit/airport located within close proximity of each other, which is nearly impossible for any other large city in the US;
- world class night life entertainment along renowned 'Sixth Street'; and
- large film industry presence - many movies filmed in the area.

Austin's National Recognition
- Known as "The Live Music Capital of the World"
- Voted "Greenest City in America" (MSN)
- Voted "Least Stressful Large Metro" in the United States (Forbes)
- Voted Top Two "Best Cities" in the United States (Money Magazine)
- Voted Top Three "Hippest Cities" in the United States (Forbes)
- Voted Top Five "Safest Cities" in the United States (Forbes)
- Voted Top Ten "Sports & Fitness Cities" in the USA (Sports Business Journal)

Full Throttle Productions, LP is an Austin, Texas, special event and sports production company that provides event conception, event project management, day of event oversight, staffing and volunteer services, venue planning and logistics support.

More information on the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ will be forthcoming shortly. In the meantime, all queries should be directed to info@fullthrottleproductionslp.com.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...0/5/10824.html
 
Old 05-25-10, 12:36 PM
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SIIICK!! might have to plan a trip to TX for this...
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Old 05-25-10, 12:40 PM
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I was just there this past weekend, I live 230 miles south on IH-35.

I am going to try to make it to this event. This is a huge event for not only Austin but all of Texas.
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Old 05-25-10, 12:53 PM
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That would be an awesome mecca!
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Old 05-25-10, 02:01 PM
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A huge win for Austin!
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Old 05-25-10, 02:17 PM
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I think its just fantastic. Then Austin has the opportunity to build the track and venues JUST FOR F1. They have a great opportunity here.
 
Old 05-25-10, 03:51 PM
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Awesome! Glad to see F1 coming back to the US! I'm definitely going to have to make a trip there!
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Old 05-25-10, 05:29 PM
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Not the so called "star location" Eccelstone wanted.
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Old 05-25-10, 05:46 PM
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great for Austin.....I just hope the weather cooperates....summer heat & humidty there is unbearable and spring/fall it can rain anytime

I'll definitely shoot for the inaugural.

here's avg temps for Austin, with records in red...
Attached Thumbnails Formula One returns!! (update track layout pics)-aus-avg-temps.jpg  

Last edited by bagwell; 05-25-10 at 05:51 PM.
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Old 05-25-10, 07:13 PM
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Austin is a nice city. I lived there, for a while, some years ago. But, despite the so-called "ideal" location and Austin's facilities, I'm not sure that Texas, which has been NASCAR country for years, is the best place for an F1 facility (same for most of the South). SoCal, IMO, might be a better bet.

In fact, NASCAR is so strong in America that I have some doubts that F1, outside of the Indy 500, will ever be able to seriously compete (and the Indy 500, like Daytona, Charlotte, and Talladega, is on a super-speedway, not a road course).

But...we'll see. Maybe the Austin facility will be a success. Good luck to it.

Last edited by mmarshall; 05-25-10 at 07:27 PM.
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Old 05-25-10, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
despite the so-called "ideal" location and Austin's facilities, I'm not sure that Texas, which has been NASCAR country for years, is the best place for an F1 facility (same for most of the South). SoCal, IMO, might be a better bet.
+1 on SoCal, I was thinking San Diego....but it probably would have been double the price and many more enviromental restrictions.
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Old 05-25-10, 07:48 PM
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I think it's great, I have not seen a F1 race live since they left Long Beach. During one of my final F1 races I had the opportunity to see Mario Andretti pass Scheckter at the Queens hairpin and then go on to win the race in his John Player Special. The fans erupted when he made the pass, it was an amazing moment to be there and see an American win on our own soil. Below is a artist rendering of the pass in the spring of 1977.

Formula 1 is a great event and I too will be heading to Austin to see it again.


Last edited by hwy1isf; 05-25-10 at 07:53 PM.
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Old 05-25-10, 08:52 PM
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I'll definitely be heading to Austin if they build this track.
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Old 05-26-10, 12:45 AM
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in .
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Old 05-26-10, 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by mmarshall
Austin is a nice city. I lived there, for a while, some years ago. But, despite the so-called "ideal" location and Austin's facilities, I'm not sure that Texas, which has been NASCAR country for years, is the best place for an F1 facility (same for most of the South). SoCal, IMO, might be a better bet.

In fact, NASCAR is so strong in America that I have some doubts that F1, outside of the Indy 500, will ever be able to seriously compete (and the Indy 500, like Daytona, Charlotte, and Talladega, is on a super-speedway, not a road course).

But...we'll see. Maybe the Austin facility will be a success. Good luck to it.
I may have to be blunt on this but IMHO, NASCAR IS *****

It's time to prove a point that there IS something better (than just racing around and around in one giant oval.)

/rant over

Hurray for F1 returning to United States of America (and I think F1 is also coming back to Canada as well?)
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