Track Announcement - "Circuit of The Americas" Unveiled

  • Thread starter Thread starter RACECAR
  • 175 comments
  • 27,651 views
What does it have to do with me watching it or not? Saying the WTCC is boring because it has low power cars is ignorant at best and to say DTM "leaves it for dead" is quite the exaggeration.
While I can see why someone would like one over the other, its debatable whether its so much better. We have a whole thread on this very subject...

As for "American SuperGT" - what's the point? You already have Grand-am, ALMS, Trans-am...
 
Ardius
:lol: Thats not the reason the WTCC is boring these days. What does power have to do with anything? DTM leaves it for dead? :lol: Do you watch any of these series?
Click to expand...
What does power have to do with it?

Everything, really. With so many high-powered touring car series - V8 Supercars, DTM, SuperGT and so on - the S2000 cars they're using these days (I think they're S2000s; I only get them on YouTube) seem slow and wallowing.
 
Again, what does that have to do with anything? Compared to F1 - DTM, SuperGT, whatever seems "slow and wallowing" yet people still watch them.

BTCC seems "slow and wallowing" too by your definition, yet somehow its a very popular and entertaining series?

Power (or speed) has nothing to do with how boring WTCC is. The terrible circuit choices, low numbers of competitive teams and drivers (RML dominating with little to no opposition) and lack of variety in cars have more to do with how boring it is.
WTCC has never really been the best touring car series, but it has been exciting in times past...even with its "slow and wallowing" cars.
 
Last edited:
interludes
Well, excuse me if I like my touring cars to be as powerful as the races are exciting.
Click to expand...

I don't fully understand the notion that cars need to be powerful to be exciting. What are your opinions on the BTCC of the TOCA era?
 
I haven't really seen them. I never got to because the Australian broadcasters never showed it. By the time YouTube came about, the Age of TOCA was over. I never got around to watching it online.
 
I just read somewhere else that COTA is still going to make 2 more announcements of more series coming to the track in the future. I hope this is true, seeing that NASCAR could definitely use another road course, and perhaps IndyCar coming for a second date in Texas.

Keepin' my fingers crossed for it!
 
Should be COTUSring or something like that in my view.
 
Alex.
Should be COTUSring or something like that in my view.
Click to expand...
That sounds a bit like Coitusring which would be inappropriate.

Robin.
Anyone hazard a guess as to who the title sponsor for the race will be?
Click to expand...
It could be the Budweiser USGP knowing Texas. :lol:

Seriously though I would bet on a pharmacological or oil company. Also, Dell has their main office in Austin in addition to many other high-tech companies. The sponsor is likely going to be something high-tech.
 
I wouldn't count out American Airlines. They are the 2nd largest air career into Austin-Berstrom International Airport and will likely be gunning to be the preferred international airline serving the visitors. Southwest Airlines is definitely the top dog at the airport, however they are primarily a domestic career and I wouldn't see them nearly as interested as AA given the international nature of F1.

Also AA is headquartered in Ft Worth (only about 200miles North of Austin) and is already very active in the North/Central Texas sports scene. Of particular note is that they have had the naming rights of the American Airlines Arena since 1999, located in Dallas, which is the home base for the local NBA and NHL teams.
 
taggles
I just read somewhere else that COTA is still going to make 2 more announcements of more series coming to the track in the future. I hope this is true, seeing that NASCAR could definitely use another road course, and perhaps IndyCar coming for a second date in Texas.

Keepin' my fingers crossed for it!
Click to expand...

I can see Indy using the circuit, as well as series like ALMS and Grand-Am, but I don't see NASCAR using it. NASCAR's lack of road courses on the schedule isn't due to a lack of road courses, as the US actually has plenty of them. Even if we disregard "rovals" like the Daytona road course or Indy road course, there's Laguna Seca, Road America, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Virginia International Raceyway, Barber Motorsports Park, Lime Rock Park, et cetera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_auto_racing_tracks_in_the_United_States#Road_courses

NASCAR isn't waiting on the introduction of new road courses. They're waiting on their fans to want road racing. The NASCAR fans that I personally know hate road courses and whine about the two that the Sprint Cup presently visits.
 
fissionproject
Please GOD keep NASCAR off this track

Please.
Click to expand...

Why?

There is no way the track will survive with just F1 and MotoGP, the more series' the better, even if you don't happen to like the series that races there. You really should watch Nationwide highlights from Montreal, there is always some great racing.

Also, I don't get it, people talk about how much NASCAR sucks because they don't go to road courses, yet post things like that(Not aimed at you directly, but just in general).

Edit: I'll save you the trouble.
 
Last edited:
Well now that I think about it, it would be quite interesting lol

Can the NASCAR's handle a track like that though? Seems like they would need some type of modification to handle the camber aspects of the turns and constant braking / accel
 
I would love to see nascar race at more road circuits. It wouldn't exactly harm Nascar's appeal outside of north america.

Without wanting to start an oval v road course debate, Nascar still produces good close racing on road courses. Shame we don't see more of it.
 
I've had to edit my blog to better discuss the new changes and updates regarding the updates on the Circuit of the Americas.

I was the one who said NASCAR should give this track a go. I love Texas Motor Speedway, so I would NEVER want to see that track drop a date. I think either NASCAR or even the IndyCar Series would be great to see race around COTA. As far as if NASCAR would be great around COTA, I've seen videos of stock cars running some laps around Laguna Seca. If they can run Laguna Seca, they can run almost any road course. They may likely use the... I guess you can call it the South Course (the Start/Finish straight, Truns 1-6, the connecting road that leads to Turn 12 of the full course, and every turn leading to the Start/Finish).

I will agree- more series at this track would be great. This track is not some sacred track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway. You have this killer new track- EMBRACE IT! I think everything from the Houston SCCA (or any SCCA divisions in central and southern Texas) to even the American Le Mans Series would be great to see around COTA. AMA Pro Road Racing would also be great to see. Ferrari Challenge, Star Mazda, World Challenge... embrace this course!

As a final note, and speaking as a former Spelling Bee participant... little spelling error: "unveiled" and not "unvieled." I can be a bit picky on spelling often times. As the kids say, "just sayin'."
 
Interesting reason behind the name from Hellmend:

"We wanted this to be not just a Texas track, not just a American circuit, but a curcuit for all of the Americas"

So contrary to the strange idea of it being snobby as some people think, its quite the opposite.


mPWRD
P.S. Hate to be a grammar Nazi, but it's "unveiled".
Click to expand...

JohnBM01
As a final note, and speaking as a former Spelling Bee participant... little spelling error: "unveiled" and not "unvieled." I can be a bit picky on spelling often times. As the kids say, "just sayin'."
Click to expand...

Well thats two so its that important :p its fixed now.

mPWRD
I'm still kinda PO'd that California didn't get the call for an F1 race... we already have two world-class circuits in Laguna Seca and Infineon... Austin's a great city and all, but can someone explain how both these were overlooked?
Click to expand...

Both tracks do not meet the FIA requirements for an F1 track and both have a huge lack of facilities necessary for F1. And be grateful neither have been included, for they basically would have to be destroyed and reconfigured just for F1.

Rich S
They copied "Road America" and made it Americas, even though there's an interlagos grand prix race.
Click to expand...

Since when does have "America" in the name automatically constitute copying Road America? So did the Mid-America Motorsport complex also Copy Road America?
 
Last edited:
They had better get more events than just F1. If not as soon as the initial contract is over Bernie will jack up the fees and the race will not be renewed. Then with in 3 years the track will be closed.
 
JohnBM01
I was the one who said NASCAR should give this track a go.
Click to expand...

My hero...

JohnBM01
You have this killer new track- EMBRACE IT!
Click to expand...

We'll see about that. It looks good on paper, but that isn't always a certainty.

RACECAR
Since when does have "America" in the name automatically constitute copying Road America? So did the Mid-America Motorsport complex also Copy Road America?
Click to expand...

+1. It's stupid to claim that they're "copying" road america by having "america" in the name.

ncrdbl1
They had better get more events than just F1. If not as soon as the initial contract is over Bernie will jack up the fees and the race will not be renewed. Then with in 3 years the track will be closed.
Click to expand...

They have at least two long term deals... But no, you must be right... 3 years and it will be closed.... [/sarcasm]. Thank you for amateur economics 101, but Bernie isn't simply going to jack up the prices due to the lack of other series racing there... And besides, I'm sure they are already paying a small fortune.
 
fissionproject
Please GOD keep NASCAR off this track

Please.
Click to expand...

Dude, if NASCAR could race at Spa, I would be overjoyed. Any road course justifies the existence of Sprint cars (just wish there were more right turns).

Just for that, I'm sending Dale Earnhardt back to deliver you from evil.

- God
 
Stevisiov
I don't fully understand the notion that cars need to be powerful to be exciting. What are your opinions on the BTCC of the TOCA era?
Click to expand...

interludes
I haven't really seen them. I never got to because the Australian broadcasters never showed it. By the time YouTube came about, the Age of TOCA was over. I never got around to watching it online.
Click to expand...

You never watched Wide World Of Sports?? 💡 Or possibly when Channel 7 had the rights to them?? They were around heaps and were only 3 seconds per lap slower around Bathurst than the V8 Supercars were during that era. I used to watch Steve Soper against Rickard Rydell, Paul Radisich and Joachim Winkelhock all the time!! Frank Biela in the Audi A4 (that got banned from the BTCC and killed off the TOCA era really), they were some great cars and very quick at the same time, always going fender to fender around every corner.
 
F1 fan
My hero...



We'll see about that. It looks good on paper, but that isn't always a certainty.



+1. It's stupid to claim that they're "copying" road america by having "america" in the name.



They have at least two long term deals... But no, you must be right... 3 years and it will be closed.... [/sarcasm]. Thank you for amateur economics 101, but Bernie isn't simply going to jack up the prices due to the lack of other series racing there... And besides, I'm sure they are already paying a small fortune.
Click to expand...

Reading comprehension must be a lost art on message boards. Reread the post again.

AFTER the initial deal is completed. Bernie is going to try and jack up the fees (It's proven history) . IF THEY DO NOT HAVE OTHER EVENTS SIGNED. THEN(this means after the F1 deal ends) if there are NOT other events the track will close down in three years.
 
ncrdbl1
Reading comprehension must be a lost art on message boards. Reread the post again.

AFTER the initial deal is completed. Bernie is going to try and jack up the fees (It's proven history) . IF THEY DO NOT HAVE OTHER EVENTS SIGNED. THEN(this means after the F1 deal ends) if there are NOT other events the track will close down in three years.
Click to expand...

Again, here you come with your magical estimations. I read and understand your little rant... I mean post. Maybe you need to understand that this is a new circuit conforming to the highest standard of the FIA and FIM. They have two long term deals with the pinnacle of racing on four wheels and two. I'm sure other european series may be tempted to try and break into America as there is a huge, mostly untapped market there. Bernie will probably try his tactic of bumping up the prices eventually, but only at the end of the long term deal.

It's now up to the circuit bosses to try and attract as many series' as possible. There is a lot of enthusiasm towards the track from locals. I genuinely think this could be the US GP that will stick. I believe it will be a success. All the pieces are in place. Time will tell who was right on this one. And what is it that makes you so sure the deal will end? Do you have a magic crystal ball? Can you read the future? No. You're making stupid assumptions that the race will be a failure. This isn't Valencia, where the locals don't give a damn. This race genuinely has a chance of turning a profit.

Edit: May I suggest that before you go and bold parts of your post to try and make yourself appear intelligent, perhaps you should do some work on your grammar.

ncrdbl1
They had better get more events than just F1. If not as soon as the initial contract is over Bernie will jack up the fees and the race will not be renewed. Then with in 3 years the track will be closed.
Click to expand...

I'm just saying... Be an idiot, you'll get treated like one. I don't need you to explain something to me like I'm 5 years old.
 
Last edited:
I highly, highly doubt the track will close down within even 10 years. Motorsport Ranch members down in Houston (& here in Dallas) love running their cars year round due to the lack of snow in our part of the world, & would jump at the chance to run their cars at a Formula 1 track.

Look at the Nascar circuits in the US. Most don't have too many major events outside a few Nascar events, and they're doing fine running small track days, charity events, manufacturer drives, etc., etc.

I think the fact alone that the track will be a F1 circuit will keep it open & draw people in. Besides, it's too early to be making such assumptions. For all we know, as interludes was saying, ALMS, SuperGT, or some other race could run an event there.
 
McLaren
I highly, highly doubt the track will close down within even 10 years. Motorsport Ranch members down in Houston (& here in Dallas) love running their cars year round due to the lack of snow in our part of the world, & would jump at the chance to run their cars at a Formula 1 track.

Look at the Nascar circuits in the US. Most don't have too many major events outside a few Nascar events, and they're doing fine running small track days, charity events, manufacturer drives, etc., etc.

I think the fact alone that the track will be a F1 circuit will keep it open & draw people in. Besides, it's too early to be making such assumptions. For all we know, as interludes was saying, ALMS, SuperGT, or some other race could run an event there.
Click to expand...

+1. Plus the DTM and V8 supercars have expanded in recent years. (with the DTM finale being held at the Shanghai street circuit last year and the V8's going racing at Abu Dhabi). If the contracts can be worked out, I can see many series wanting to visit the track. I read an article about Tavo Hellmund a while ago and this guy eats, sleeps and breathes motorsports, so the track is in good hands.

Like I said, the locals are embracing the prospect of the Grand Prix. I really feel like this could be the US gp that works. Now lets just hope the circuit lives up to all it's promise.
 
McLaren
Look at the Nascar circuits in the US. Most don't have too many major events outside a few Nascar events, and they're doing fine running small track days, charity events, manufacturer drives, etc., etc.
Click to expand...

PIR here in Phoenix has NASA and SCCA track days at least twice a month during the summer. That track is constantly busy. Although this year is different as the track is currently tarmac-less and has a big hole in the front stretch. :lol:

PIR.jpg
 
Last edited:

Latest Posts

Back