Austin Formula One Grand Prix

[Rhys Gardiner]

The draft layout for the upcoming F1 track in Austin, Texas has been revealed.

It would appear that Tavo Hellmund was right about the circuit paying tribute to some of the world's best ractracks. Looking at the layout, which runs anti-clockwise, one can see corners resembling the Becketts complex at Silverstone and Turn 8 at Istanbul. Hellmund says the cars will reach 200mph on the back straight, while the total elevation change is 133 feet (~40m).

The track will be designed by Hermann Tilke's company, as has been the case with all new F1 track designs or modifications since 1997 (with the exception of the Arena Section at Silverstone, which was designed by track-designing firm Populous). Construction is planned to begin in December and the track is set to host the Formula One United States Grand Prix in 2012.

http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/00530/20057573_622158_530233c.jpg

 

[Abdul Al-Amry]

Mhhh, its great to have an F1 race in US again, but that design just feels weird.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Looks good to me, nice long straight with a tight corner. Nice sweeping sections as well

 

[Danny Asbury]

Yes! I had no idea they were planning on bringing F1 back here to the US. It's about time. If I can get down there for that event it would be so awesome.

 

[Tim Brook]

Hmmm, maybe clocks run the other way round over there but that looks like the arrow's pointing anti-clockwise.

 

[Xosé Estrada]

Yes Tim, it seems it will be an anti-clockwise track

Not only for F1, I think it will be good for USA to have modern road track at the same level of their ovals, most of USA road courses are in the 80's in terms of facilities and accommodations.

 

[Austin Jordan]

yeah an f1 track named after me. lol. it looks great. all the corners are challenging and this may be a permanet track on the circuit.

 

[Niels Pedersen]

We should atleast be glad they used corners ...

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Curious how fast the F1 circus will abandon this track when the New York City track is put on the calendar in the future

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

As far as I know, Hellmund wants two races in the US... I don't think they'd be competing for spectators.

 

[Dennis Phelan]

Yeah, it looks weird but it looks good for the cars. A race should end up being a race.
So, I ask myself if I could find happiness driving different classes of Race/Evo cars on it....
and I say yes, but I's still be at the back of the pack.

 

[Ethan Bass]

Why does that section with the hairpin thats between two fast straights remind me of another old F1 track, can't think of what one it is though.

But this looks like a LOVELY track, that little winding zig-zaglike section after the first 2 corners may be my fav bit of the track, will definitly need some skill and courage to go through there at speed, and looking at it, it will vital for overtaking into the hairpin before the back straight. 5/5 star track, looks to be a good replacement for Indianapolis.

 

[Ben Buitendijk]

first 2 corners look like Zhuhai, then you have T10 from Istanbul, then you enter a couple of Hockenheimish corners :wink:

 

[Konrad Stanczak]

I think thats just somethink mr. Hermann draw on his lap for the public to have something talk about :]
Ive used to do that at school all the time

 

[Maurice Hurkmans]

It maybe looks weird, but it seems to have a good mix of straights and slow- and highspeed corners.

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

loooking fine, but where to overtake? the long straights open with a sharp turn, which means the car trailing will take some time before it can gather speed which in turn means there will be a gap between racers which in turn means slipstream will be smallish. Still, the flowing section on the right should make for some nice close racing.

 

[Ross Balfour]

I disagree Eckhart, I see 3 or 4 places to overtake, but then again I have eyes like Kobayashi when it comes to overtaking

The only disadvantage is that if that corner before the long straight is like the bridge at Valencia Street, there will not be enough time to slipstream and pass as there is a large gap coming out of a slower corner

Looks great though, and good to see F1 back in the US soon.

 

[Dave Stephenson]

the had to make it turn left didn't they!

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

Here's a 3D map of the circuit's proposed elevation changes: http://www.statesman.com/multimedia/dynamic/00530/elevationmap_530513c.jpg
I'm thinking this'll be a great racetrack.

 

[Kris Vickers]

Has anybody started building this in BobsTrackBuilder yet?? lol

Lets get the virtual track finished before the real track (obviously with some guess work involved)