Momentum is building towards a V8 Supercars race at Austin, Texas, possibly as early as next year.
Speedcafe.com has learned that V8 Supercars has been targeted by the owners of the new Texas track, which is currently under construction.
The brand-new Texas facility, known as the ‘Circuit of the Americas,’ will serve as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix from June next year through to 2021. It will also host a round of MotoGP in 2013.
Since the partial sale of V8 Supercars to Archer Capital, international expansion has been one of the big focuses for V8 chairman Tony Cochrane.
There has been increasing speculation regarding possible international venues for V8s and its plans for 18 events by 2013.
Cochrane is currently on holidays, and V8 Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard would not make comment.
Cochrane recently admitted that he has had contact with various American race tracks
“There has been very strong interest from a number of American circuits to host a round of our great championship,” Cochrane told American website Speed.com recently.
“We don’t have anything signed, but we are talking with people.
“We’ve spoken with a number of North American promoters and regions that are interested and we’ll continue to have open dialogue with them.”
The Circuit of the Americas is the work of Full Throttle Productions – a company set up by racing driver turned event promoter Tavo Hellmund.
The long-time friend of Bernie Ecclestone has banded together a select group of wealthy investors to back the project, while $25 million from the state’s Major Events Trust Fund has also secured, subject to a recently commenced law suit alleging that the money was incorrectly allocated.
The circuit has been penned by infamous Formula One track designer Herman Tilke, and is currently under construction.
The full 20 turn, 5.47km Grand Prix layout is said to draw inspiration from several of the world’s great corner complexes, with Silverstone’s Maggotts/Becketts, Hockenheim’s stadium section, and Istanbul Park’s four-apex Turn 8 being replicated on the undulating landscape.
Austin is the capital city of the state of Texas, and has a population nearing 2 million people.
The State of Texas is said to be the 11th strongest economy in the world, and has more Fortune 500 company headquarters than any other state.
Austin, its capital, sits within a 200 mile radius of Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas – making the race accessible to some 22 million people.
In this week’s edition of Speed Talk, Speecafe.com columnist Chris Jewell talks about V8s competing overseas. CLICK HERE to see which race circuit Jewell would like to see V8s race on.
Also, see below for video on the Austin, Texas circuit.
