They want you to see where you can park your arse first. They are trying to sell tickets early..............
I am beginning to think it is fortunate that I probably won't be able to attend the inaugural Austin Grand Prix. Still hoping... but... Oh, and-- Is it finished yet?
another score - American Le Mans Series coming to Circuit of the Americas in 2013 Steve Nesius/ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge Photo A super full moon rises over the back straight away during the 59th annual American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring auto race at the Sebring International Raceway Saturday, March 19, 2011 in Sebring, By John Maher AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Updated: 10:32 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2012 Published: 10:29 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2012 Starting next spring, the American Le Mans Series will race at Circuit of the Americas for at least the next three years, track officials said Friday. The endurance sports car series, patterned after 24 Hours of Le Mans, becomes the third race series booked for the $300 million track being built in southeastern Travis County. The series joins the Formula One Grand Prix scheduled for November and the Australian V8 Supercars race slated for next year. "Our vision is to bring premier sports and entertainment programming to Circuit of the Americas and to partner with motorsports organizations that put a premium on innovation, fan experience and environmental sustainability," said Steve Sexton, the circuit's president. "The American Le Mans Series with its highly competitive, customer-focused programming and its well-known commitment to green racing certainly fits that vision." Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the series, said, "It's been a long time coming ... there is no question in our minds that Circuit of the Americas will be one of the finest road-racing venues not only in North America, but on a global scale." Atherton added that his series should be a good fit for Austin, as it focuses on such issues as sustainability and alternative fuels. "We pride ourselves on being the global leader of green racing, We embraced this many years ago before it was the politically correct thing to do," he said. The series was created by Georgia businessman Don Pano and made its debut in 1999. Speeds can top 180 mph, and the competing cars include Chevrolet, Ferrari, Honda, Lotus, Mazda and Porsche. "What you see on the track today is what you see on the street tomorrow. That's part of the appeal," said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which last month was the site of the third stop on the series' 10-race calendar. Campbell, in an interview earlier this year, said the race at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., typically draws 45,000 fans over three days. American Le Mans Series races are contested on temporary street circuits or natural-terrain road courses. "You'll never see us on an oval," Atherton said. The series has been talking with Circuit of the Americas officials for more than a year. Speculation about an Austin race increased in April, when Paul DeJoria was announced as an investor in the circuit. While he is best known for Paul Mitchell hair care products, DeJoria also founded Patron Tequila, the title sponsor for the American Le Mans Series. Campbell said the sports car series can be profitable for a track. "We don't make a lot of money off it, but we make a little," she said. "Sports car racing fans are fickle. If there's no Audi, ticket sales are really flat." The date for the Circuit of the Americas race and the length of the event will be set later this year. Contact John Maher at 445-3956
Good news. Now, if only they can get a larger field of P1 cars, that would be worth seeing. Any more news on the current litigation ongoing over control of the track and promotion?
found this. http://www.statesman.com/sports/formula1/f1-records-unsealed-at-statesmans-request-2374608.html
After reading that article, and in combination with other things I've read, this fiasco will not end well, except for a few wealthy lawyers/bankers who have already been paid. I'm sure there's a LOT the public hasn't been told yet, if it ever will be. Somebody will pick up the whole thing for a few cents on the dollar inside a few years.
Ticket Prices - Circuit of the Americas tickets to range from $159 to $499 By Dave Doolittle | Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 03:19 PM Circuit of the Americas today released prices for three-day tickets to a Formula One race planned for November. General admission seating, which will allow people to choose from several grassy berms and other public areas around the circuit, will be $159 per person. Reserved grandstand seating at turns 2, 3, 4, 5, the hairpin 11 and 12, will be $269 to $499. All tickets include round-trip shuttle service from parking garages downtown, the Travis County Exposition Center in Northeast Austin and another location in Travis County that will be announced this summer, officials said. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. central June 10, officials said, through www.circuitofheamericas.com/tickets or www.ticketmaster.com. “We received fan input from extensive customer surveys and through market research from other Grands Prix and comparable premier, international, multi-day sporting events,” said Geoff Moore, the circuit’s chief marking and revenue officer. “In the final analysis, we wanted to make this event affordable to F1 fans around the country.” Travis County judge Sam Biscoe today approved a mass gathering permit for organizers to host the race, planned for Nov. 16 through 18. The circuit is currently under construction in southeastern Travis County, and officials expect to have it completed in time for the first race. circuitoftheamericas.com Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment http://circuitoftheamericas.com/tickets
I googled laboriously for more than 30 seconds and still could find anything about whether or not they are going to allow chairs and/or coolers in the GA areas. Anyone know?
linky Hellmund Agrees To Settle F1 Suit Tavo Hellmund agrees to out-of-court settlement of suit filed against Austin F1 investors By Richard Whittaker, Fri., June 15, 2012 Before their relationship began to publicly unravel, (l-r) Tavo Hellmund, Red McCombs, and Bobby Epstein appeared together at an April 2011 press conference for the unveiling of the Circuit of the Americas name. Photo by John Anderson It should be a time of jubilation for the team behind Austin's Formula One race. Last Sunday the Circuit of the Americas began ticket sales for the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, and a big push starts this weekend for a two-day Formula Expo event at the Austin Convention Center. But one name will be absent from the festivities: Tavo Hellmund, the brain behind the project, who has accepted an out-of-court settlement to quit the company. It's a tale as old as business itself: The one who dreams big often loses out to the money men. After months of rumors that Hellmund and his investors were at each other's throats, in March Hellmund finally sued his partners for $18 million. The sordid details were expected to be heard in Travis County District Court this week, but on June 8, Circuit of the Americas' Julie Loig*non, vice president of public and community relations, told the Chronicle via email that "a settlement agreement has been reached." It all came down to a complex network of companies and what they brought to the table. First up was Full Throttle Productions LP: That's Hellmund's company, which signed the deal with F1. Then there was Prophet Track Partners and Prophet Ven*tures, two firms run by Austin financier Bobby Epstein. Aside from money, Epstein also controlled 647 acres of Southeast Travis County scheduled to become the Wandering Creek housing development, which instead became the core of the Circuit of the Amer*icas. And finally there was McCombs Motor Sports LLC, owned by Red McCombs. Not only did the automotive multimillionaire bring more cash to the table, but he also added political credibility to the project. According to Hellmund's March 12 filing, he brought Epstein and McCombs on board by offering them 75% of his venture. In return for having them finance the track, Hellmund became a minority shareholder and was hired for 10 years as chairman of the FIA Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. And then, according to Hell*mund, everything came unglued. He claims his partners repeatedly failed to fulfill their financial commitments endangering the project and that they finally cut him out of the deal by negotiating a new and more demanding contract with F1. In his suit, Hellmund claimed that "Epstein/McCombs' gamesmanship (or lack of experience) destroyed significant benefits for the Company." However, with the June 8 agreement, Hell*mund is out. That's a situation that many close to the project have described as unfortunate and tragic, especially since without him, there would be no F1 in Austin. It was his close relationship with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone that opened negotiations. No F1, no Circuit and it was a circuit that Hellmund helped design, demanding that it be a world-class track that would excite drivers and fans. No circuit, and none of the other race series lined up would have signed on the dotted line. It already looks like MotoGP may back out of its deal to start racing in Austin in 2013, since it was Hellmund through his close friend and former world champion Kevin Schwantz who signed it up. Now racing fans are wondering what else departed with the track's visionary. From Contract to Litigation: A Timeline May 25, 2010: Three years after the last U.S. Grand Prix, Formula One announces a 10-year deal with Tavo Hellmund's Full Throttle Productions LP to bring F1 to Austin in 2012. July 23: Hellmund and track investors Red McCombs and Bobby Epstein form Accelerator Holdings. July 27: Full Throttle announces McCombs' role and unveils track location in Elroy, as well as deal with MotoGP. Dec. 15: Partners sign agreement for Accelerator Holdings, including a division of shares and a 10-year, $500,000-a- year contract with Hellmund. March 31, 2011: McCombs and Epstein miss deadline to raise $190 million in construction funds. June 3: FIA World Motor Sport Council pencils in first U.S. Grand Prix for June 17, 2012. July 1: Circuit of the Amer*icas announces a deal with V8 Supercars. July 31: McCombs and Epstein fail to provide $4 million required to secure Major Events Trust Fund subsidy from state. Aug. 31: Amid concerns about construction timetables and summer heat, the race is rescheduled for Nov. 18, 2012. Sept. 13: Epstein and McCombs secure construction funding. Sept. 29: Hellmund agrees to be bought out by Epstein and McCombs for $18 million. Oct. 25: As Hellmund, Epstein, and McCombs meet at in the London office of F1 supremo Bernie Eccle*stone, Hellmund has his personal belongings removed from the COTA offices. Meanwhile, a second American Grand Prix, to be held in New Jersey starting in 2013, is announced. Nov. 15: Epstein suspends construction unless Hellmund hands over the F1 contract Dec. 7: Hours before the FIA approves the 2012 schedule, Ecclestone announces new contract directly with circuit management. March 12, 2012: Hellmund sues Epstein and McCombs for breach of contract and demands to see the company books. June 1: Circuit seals deal with American Le Mans series. June 8: Circuit and Hellmund reach settlement agreement.
Thanks, Mike. Progress may be harder to see as construction nears completion. Has track paving started?
