Aussies Invade Austin
The Aussie invasion was in full swing this past weekend at Circuit of The Americas!
Americans got their first taste of Australian V8 Supercars™ as Australia’s most popular motorsport made its debut on United States soil May 17-19.
Record crowds and temperatures highlighted the inaugural V8 Supercars Austin 400, as crowds of 68,891 battled 90 degree heat to see the best of Australian motorsport racing!
The three-day event combined racing from several different racing levels including Porsche GT3, Pirelli TC, Pirelli GT/GTS and of course, V8 Supercars™.
Fans were treated to four V8 Supercars™ races throughout the weekend, each having an equal point value towards the V8 Supercars™ Championship Points Standings.
The weekend was dominated by Red Bull Racing Australia and the General Motors Australia-produced Holden Commodore VF. Red Bull drivers Jamie Whincup and teammate, Craig Lowndes, claimed the top two podium positions, respectively, in Saturday’s V8 Supercars™ Races 13 and 14. Lockwood Racing’s Fabian Coulthard, brought his No. 14 car home third at the end of each contest.
The same three drivers took top honors in Sunday’s Race 15, only with a change-up at the top. Coulthard won the race, with Lowndes again finishing second and Whincup claiming third.
Lowndes, who came off his record setting weekend in Perth, failed to get on the top of the podium to extend his career win mark. However, three second place finishes in Austin kept him second in the overall points standing.
Sunday’s final V8 race, Race 16, offered the only variety on the podium this weekend, with Whincup winning again, Coulthard taking second and Austin podium newcomer Shane Gisbergen in the No. 97 Team TEKNO Holden finishing third.
Whincup’s three Austin wins extended his overall points total to 1247, which is 142 points higher than his nearest competitor.
Below are the race results from each of the V8 Supercars Austin 400 races.
V8 Supercars Austin 400 Race Results
Race 13
Race 14
Race 15
Race 16
Action Packed Weekend for Circuit of The Americas Experiences
Our Circuit of The Americas Experiences guests had an extra long V8 Supercars™ experience at the Circuit of The Americas track due to Austin’s extremely hot weather. Rather than only experiencing the hospitality suite Saturday and Sunday for the races, we opened it up for Friday’s practices and qualifying races to allow them access to drinks, air conditioning and shaded seats overlooking the start/finish line.
Once the races were complete for the day (and the sun cooled down), our guests got the chance to go down onto the track for the Pit Lane Walk. There, they took pictures on the track, saw the top sponsored cars up close, looked under the hoods of some of the fastest cars out there, and watched pit crews do their magic.
Saturday was the start of the V8 Supercars™ races, so our guests came in ready to go, many carrying flags, signs, and even several kangaroos to support their drivers! In the early afternoon, guests enjoyed a complimentary gourmet lunch buffet while listening to and asking questions with former F1®, NASCAR and Grand Prix racecar driver, Bob Bondurant. Bob not only met with our guests and signed autographs, but several won signed memorabilia and event a Hot Lap with Bob himself! This was followed by a crowd favorite appearance by current V8 Supercars™ drivers David Reynolds and Russell Ingall.
Sunday was even more action-packed with a live performance inside of the hospitality suite during lunch by the former American Idol finalist, Elise Testone, followed by another double V8 Supercars™ driver appearance by Scott McLaughlin and Jason Bright.
The hospitality suite was only half of the excitement, as some of our VIP guests took their own Hot Laps around the track.. After an amazing third and final victory by Jamie Whincup, we walked our guests out onto the track one last time to celebrate in the winner’s circle, close enough to feel the champagne spraying.
On our complimentary shuttles back to the parking area, many of our guests admitted that this was the best
V8 Supercars™ experience of their lives, as it was ours!
Craig Lowndes Breaks V8 Supercars Record
We’ve all heard the Ricky Bobby quote, “I wanna go fast!”
Well V8 Supercars has its own Ricky Bobby in Craig Lowndes.
No one has gone faster or won as many races as Lowndes, who recently broke the V8 Supercars record for career wins!
Lowndes claimed his record-breaking 91st career win in the opening race of the V8 Supercars round in Perth. The 38-year-old driver overtook his Red Bull Racing teammate Jamie Chuncup on the 28th lap of the 50-lap race. He held onto the lead for the final 22 laps for an emotional finish.
With the win, Lowndes surpassed the all-time V8 Supercars winning record of 90 victories set by Mark Skaife. Skaife, who was in attendance as a TV commentator, immediately came down to congratulate Lowndes on breaking his own record: An amazing show of sportsmanship from the V8 Supercars legend!
Lowndes equaled Skaife's milestone of 90 wins in the opening round of the season in Adelaide in March, but the 38-year-old Holden driver failed to take the checkered flag at the past two events in Tasmania and New Zealand.
Lowndes was relieved to finally achieve the milestone, which eluded him for the last several races. "It has been hanging over my head for a little while. You try not to think about it but you know it's there because it's in the press so it's now nice to have finally done it.'' (Source News.com.au)
Lowndes looks to continue his historical season in two weeks when V8 Supercars head to Austin for the 2013 V8 Supercars Austin 400. Winning at the inagural event will add another record to Lowndes career as one of the only V8 Supercars drivers to win on U.S. soil!
Congratulations to Craig Lowndes on becoming the all-time wins leader in V8 Supercars history!
Austin Here We Come!
Lowndes and the rest of the V8 Supercars drivers will make history as they head to Austin, Texas for the 2013 V8 Supercars Austin 400.
The inaugural event will mark the first V8 Supercars event staged in the United States! It is also the first time any Australian motorsport category has competed on U.S. soil.
V8 Supercars will roar into Austin on May 17-19, 2013. With four races throughout the weekend, Circuit of The Americas promises to deliver spectacular racing action for all three days!
If you would like to attend this historical event, secure your Official Ticket Packages through Circuit of The Americas Experiences. Our Official Ticket Packages get you in the heart of the action and include tickets to all three race days, in-track VIP hospitality access, a private concert by American Idol Contestant Elise Testone, and much more! Book your tickets to the 2013 V8 Supercars Austin 400 today!
MotoGP History Made in Austin
Marc Marquez capped off an historic weekend at Circuit of The Americas!
The 20-year-old MotoGP rookie claimed his very first pole position on Saturday and first MotoGP race win on Sunday. An historic weekend for the young Spaniard, but also for the sport of MotoGP.
His win in Austin made Marquez the youngest driver ever to win a MotoGP race at the first international motorcycle Grand Prix held at Circuit of The Americas!
Marquez takes the record, set 21 years before he was born, from former MotoGP rider and two-time series champion Freddie Spencer. Spencer’s first win came at the Belgian MotoGP race when he was 20 years, 196 days old. Marquez wins at age 20 and 63 days.
The two Respol Honda drivers stole the show in Austin. Although Marquez started on the pole, teammate Dani Pedrosa, ducked beneath Marquez out of the starting gates and into turn 1. Pedrosa led for half the race. The two Hondas raced nose-to-tail for the first 12 laps until Marquez passed Pedrosa inside Turn 7 on Lap 13.
Marquez never looked back!
Pedrosa finished in second place, one and one-half seconds behind Marquez. Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo completed the podium in third place. Full race results are below.
Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas Race Results
After two races, Marquez is tied atop the MotoGP World Standings with 41 points with Lorenzo. Dani Pedrosa is third in points with 33.
Marquez will look to continue his success in two weeks as MotoGP heads to Spain for the Grand Prix of Spain. Born in Spain, Marquez is particularly excited about racing in his native country. “Now I’m looking forward to the next race at Jerez de la Frontera, in Andalucia Spain, where I’ll be riding in front of all my fans!”
Don’t Miss out on Next Year’s Grand Prix of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas Experiences would like to invite you back for the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas in 2014! Be there to see the planet’s most talented and skilled riders battle it out for the MotoGP World Championship. At speeds of over 200 mph and lean angles as low as 45 degrees, MotoGP racing is a once and a lifetime experience! Get on the early call back list today for your chance to experience 2014 MotoGP racing at Circuit of The Americas!
MotoGP™ had its most recent Official Testing session over the past three days. Last week we recapped the first Official Testing session and the storylines coming out of it. First, would have to be Dani Pedrosa and his three day dominance. He narrowly had the best lap on the first day over 2012 World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo, but increased the margin on the second and third days of testing. The second storyline would have to be that the top four riders were the same all three days. Dani Pedrosa finished first. Jorge Lorenzo finished second. Marc Marquez finished third on days one and two and fourth on day three and Valentino Rossi finished fourth. Finally, the emergence of 20-year old rookie Marc Marquez. The reigning Moto2 World Champion had moved up to the MotoGP™ and was holding his own with the best riders in the world. What storylines would come from these three days?
Day 1
Rain cut the first day short, but not after Dani Pedrosa took his spot atop the standings. Pedrosa posted a 2:01.580, his worst lap of any testing day in 2013. Still, it was enough to for him to claim the top lap. He was ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who has been behind him everyday of testing so far. Lorenzo’s 2:01.815 was 0.235 seconds slower than Pedrosa. Marc Marquez finished third and LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl was fourth with a top lap of 2:01.959. Speaking to MotoGP.com, Bradl thought he could improve in some areas, mainly braking. "By the end of our running we had found ourselves in a good position, so that was good. We still have some things to try in terms of geometry and lifting the bike and I also suffered a bit today with braking – it wasn’t as stable as at the last test." In fifth place was Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi. Rossi’s best lap was 2:02.028, 0.448 seconds slower than the lead lap.
Day 2
For the first time all testing season, Dani Pedrosa did not have the best lap of the day. Jorge Lorenzo ran the best lap for the Yamaha Factory Racing Team. His 2:00.282 on the 32nd lap was 0.369 seconds better than Pedrosa. Don’t think that will satisfy the 2012 World Champion though, recapping his performance from the week. “The speed of this track changes a 
lot," sad Lorenzo, "Yesterday I did a 2m 0.2s in the heat of the middle of the day. If it didn't rain last night and we could push at 10am this morning, I'm sure we could have done a 1m 59s." His time of 2:00.282 would remain the best lap of the second Official Testing, but who would post the best lap the final day on Thursday?
Day 3
The final day finished the way five out of the six testing days in 2013 finished, with Dani Pedrosa posting the fastest lap. His 2:00.562 was 0.081 faster than his rookie teammate Marc Marquez. Marquez didn’t seem to have any lingering affects from a mild wreck on the final day of the last Official Testing. Following the two members of the Respol Honda Team were the teammates from the Yamaha Factory Racing Team. Jorge Lorenzo finished in third with a top lap of 2:00.992, followed by Valentino Rossi who completed a top lap of 2:01.062. Rounding out the top five was Alvaro Bautista. Bautista’s top time lap of 2:01.078 was 0.516 seconds off the top lap of the day. The Ducati team placed two riders in the top-10 as, Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden finished in eighth and ninth respectively. The story continued to be the Dani Pedrosa’s dominance. It is starting to turn from a storyline to a theme for the testing days, but will it carry over once everything starts to count, April 7th?
The next MotoGP™ Official Testing will be at Circuit of The Americas™ in 11 days. The riders will return the weekend of April 19-21 for the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. Be there to see who clinches the title in this breathtaking spectacle with your exclusive Official 2013 MotoGP™ Ticket Package direct from Circuit of The Americas Experiences. Don't miss out on the great benefits that only come through Official programming!
We are only two months away from the MotoGP™ race at the Circuit of The Americas™ in Austin, Texas and the season got off to a fast start earlier this month. MotoGP™ has a series of pre-season tests leading up to the first race of the year in Qatar on April 7, 2013. Each test lasts three days and each level of the series tests at different times and different tracks. February 5-7, 2013 the top level, MotoGP™, got things going in Malaysia.
2012 reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo was the one to watch out for heading into the day, but it was Dani Pedrosa and his Repsol Honda RCV213V that ended up finishing in front at the end of the three day event. Four riders really stood out and from start to the finish there was a lot of jostling for position. Here is a day by day account of how the 2013 season kicked off.
DAY 1
Pedrosa, along with his Repsol Honda rookie teammate, Marc Marquez, Lorenzo and his Yamaha Factory Racing teammate Valentino Rossi, really stole the show on Day 1. That set the tone for the rest of the testing. It did not take long for these four to distinguish themselves from the pack either, as they finished top four in the morning session. By the afternoon session, the story was Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Rossi and Marquez. By days end this is how the top five finished:
The biggest surprise of them all was Marquez. The 20-year old rookie from Spain was keeping up with the top riders in the world. “I’m very happy with how the first day went,” said Marquez after Day 1, “because you always have a few nerves after a couple of months out. I thought that I would take a little longer to get back 'on it', but right from the opening laps I felt very comfortable on the bike. We picked up confidence from the start, although obviously we can still improve.”
DAY 2
Most people looked for Day 2 to either confirm, or disprove what suspicions they may have had after Day 1. Unfortunately day was cut short by rain, but it did not feel like a total wash to the day’s top rider. “Today I was able to try some more things on the bike and we made a few positive steps forward from yesterday,” said Dani Pedrosa. “The feeling is good, I'm happy and that's what's important. We had planned to try a few more things in the afternoon, like the hard compound tires, but it started to rain early and we were unable to go out.” But once again the top four riders on Day 2 were the same as they were after Day 1.
The top four finished within 0.5 seconds of the leader, where the fifth place finisher, Cal Crutchlow, finished 0.762 seconds off the top lap. Crutchlow was happy with his improvement from Day 1 to Day 2 as well, but still knew he had a little ways to go. “I've still got a few tenths to find but it seems on used tires I'm around the same pace as Valentino and that's positive but I still feel a little bit rusty after the winter lay-off.” This set up a very interesting final day.
DAY 3
Day 3 was very similar to the first two with just few changes. Dani Pedrosa completed a three day sweep of the testing, registering the top lap times, all three days. He was followed by Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and his teammate Marc Marquez. All four of those riders did not finish below fourth on any given day and all were within 0.536 seconds of the lead lap every single day. Despite a low side crash on Day 3, that he waled away from, Marc Marquez asserted himself as a rider to watch this season. Following the top four once again was Cal Crutchlow in fifth and Stefan Bradl in sixth. The final day’s final standings:
MotoGP™ will make it’s highly anticipated Circuit of The Americas™ debut April 21, 2013. Secure your exclusive Official 2013 Ticket Package through the Circuit of The Americas™ Experiences program to experience all the excitement, speed, breathtaking action and power of MotoGP™. Don't miss out on the great benefits that only come through Official programming!
Saturday was one of the biggest days of the V8 Supercars season. Test Day is a day that all V8 fans get excited about, because it is the beginning of a new season. It’s almost like spring training in baseball, but it’s in cars that reach up to 300 kilometers an hour (185 miles per hour). According to V8supercars.com.au, 17,600 spectator showed up to the pre-season event. So starts the new V8 Supercars season and here is on what went down Saturday in Sydney.
The biggest question leading into the testing day, was surrounding the V8 Supercar Car of the Future and how it would hit the race track. Would it be as competitive as the traditional Holden-v-Ford rivalry has been for the last couple of seasons? The answer is yes. The V8 Supercar Car of the Future proved to be competitive and all four brands showed the fans that this year will be as exciting as any other. There are morning and afternoon sessions to Test Day, and the top news coming out of the morning session was Jason Bright.
25 cars completed the three-hour morning session Saturday at Sydney Motorsport Park, in New South Wales, but only one completed a lap in 1:30.6334, Jason Bright. Bright along with Brad Jones Racing counterpart, Fabian Coulthard topped the times and James Courtney’s Holden Racing Team Commodore gave Holden the top three times of the morning. Rick Kelly’s Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima was fourth and only 0.2 seconds behind the fastest time. Rounding out the top-five from the morning was Jonathon Webb for Tekno Autosports.
The afternoon session turned out to be just a tab bit better.
In the afternoon Jason Bright out did himself and finished a lap in 1:28.9655, beating Craig Lowndes’ previous record of 1:29.2493. Fabian Coulthard came in second again, but also registered a quicker lap than he did in the morning, at 1:29.0057, also beating Lowndes’ old mark. Lowndes himself came in third in the afternoon for Red Bull Racing Australia, followed by Dean Fiore of and Rick Kelly, who finished fifth after placing fourth in the morning session.
V8 Supercars will make it’s highly anticipated United States debut May 17-19, 2013 at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Secure your exclusive Official Ticket Package through the Circuit of The Americas Experiences program to experience all the excitement, speed, breathtaking action and power of the V8 Supercars! Don't miss out on the great benefits that only come through Official programming!
The planet’s most talented and skilled riders will line a grid to battle it out for the MotoGP™ World Championship. Armed with cutting-edge motorcycle technology and prototype machinery producing over 200hp, these machines are capable of going 0-60mph in three seconds, reaching top speeds of over 200mph, and achieving lean angles as low as 45 degrees.
MotoGP™ is the premier championship in professional motorcycle road racing. It is divided into three classes:
1. MotoGP™- premier series, 800cc engines
2. Moto2- 250cc
3. Moto3- 125cc
MotoGP™ has a long standing tradition with over 60 years of heart pumping, motorcycle racing action. This is a brief overview of the sport’s storied past.
The Beginning
MotoGP™ started in 1938 and was initially known as the Federation Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes (FICM). FICM announced a European Championship, but World War II interrupted the running of the race and it was never held. The first formal World Championship was run in 1949.
When the first Grand Prix was established there were four different classes. The classes are based the size of the motorcycles’ engine:
1. Premier class 500cc
2. 350cc
3. 250cc
4. 125cc
The 1950’s were dominated by Italian motorcycle companies. In the late 50’s Italian cycles won all four categories for three consecutive season from 1958 to 1960. In the premier class they won for an unprecedented 17 straight years from 1958 until 1974. In the 1960’s, Japanese motorcycle companies came into prominence and a lot of the companies are still prominent today. Companies such as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha won championships during the decade and had a lot of success in the 50cc division that was started in 1962.
Giacomo Agostini
In the late 1960’s, the legend of Giacomo Agostini began. He is the most successful rider in
World Championship competition history. He won both the 350cc and the 500cc(premier class) for five straight seasons, 1968-1972 racing for MV Agusta. Overall, he won 15 World Championships across all of the motorcycle classes. Many riders today only race in one class, so few riders will ever come close to Agostini’s success.
Changing the Game
Due to increased costs, many motorcycle companies removed themselves from competition. FIM responded by adjusting the rules. Limiting "the bikes to single cylinder engines in the 50cc class, two cylinders in 125cc and 250cc, and four cylinders in 350cc and 500cc.”* Many of the companies returned to competition after the adjustment to the rules.
In 1982, the FIM ended the 350cc class’ 34 year run and in 1984 they replaced the 50cc class with the 80cc class. This left four classes in the World Championship; 80cc, 125cc, 250cc and 500cc. However after just six seasons, the 80cc class was ended, leaving the three classes we have today.
In 1996 the Grand Prix’s association with side car racing came to an end when the sidecars created the Sidecar World Cup in 1997. The premier class transformed again in 2002 with a change to 990cc’s, which scaled back to 800cc’s in 2007.
The Modern Era
Much like the minor leagues in other sports the lower divisions of MotoGP™ have evolved into a proving ground as riders look to win their division to move up MotoGP™.
For the better part of the past decade, MotoGP™ has been dominated by Italian rider Valentino Rossi. Rossi won the last ever 500cc race in 2001 and won four consecutive titles in the new 990cc category in ’02, ’03, ’04 and ’05. He lost in ’06, but reemerged as the champion in 2008. He won five MotoGP™ titles in eight seasons with three different premier class engines. He won again in 2009 giving him seven titles. Putting him within one of Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record of eight. Last season Jorge Lorenzo of Spain won his second title in three years. He captured his first MotoGP™ crown in 2010 at the age of 23.
Witness MotoGP™ in 2013. In April, the MotoGP™ Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas will be held at the Circuit of The Americas™ in Austin, Texas. As the Exclusive Official Ticket, Hospitality and Travel Package Provider, Circuit of The Americas Experiences, will sell newly-created packages, bringing racing fans closer to the action and providing a turn-key program that includes seats in various locations throughout the race track, on-site hospitality, insider extras and other concierge services for corporate and social groups.
The Official Circuit of The Americas Experiences packages for the Formula 1™, V8 Supercar and MotoGP™ races are available now and will be featured on the Official website, www.COTAExperiences.com
2012 United States Grand Prix Recap
Beautiful weather, new track, and bare knuckle racing made the inaugural United States Grand Prix in Austin one of the most exciting events of the 2012 Formula One season.
A capacity crowd of 117,429 watched Sunday's suspenseful race and saw some of the sport's best battle it out for the 2012 Formula 1 Driver Championship. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso came into the race separated by only 10 points generating a high-tensioned race around the Circuit of the Americas.
Vettel controlled the race early as he started from the pole position. Leading the first 42 laps, it looked as if Vettel would capture his sixth win on the season and fifth out of the last six races. However, on lap 43, Vettel was overtaken by McLaren Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton would go on to win the inaugural United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Hamilton's win was the 21st of his career and second straight win in the United States. Hamilton won the last United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007.
Sebastian Vettel held on to second place and increased his points lead over Fernando Alonso by three points. Alonso finished third and now trails 273-260 in the driver standings.
Circuit of the Americas proved to be special place to enjoy the excitement of Formula One racing. With attendance levels of 265,000 over the three-day event, guests enjoyed live-music, driver appearances, texan-themed food & beverage, and so much more!
With additional auto racing including the Ferrari Challenge, Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA West, and HGP Race, Circuit of the Americas is a versatile track that can entertain every type of motorsports fan.
Current Formula One Driver Standings
| Position |
Driver |
Points |
| 1. |
Sebastian Vettel |
273 |
| 2. |
Fernando Alonso |
260 |
| 3. |
Kimi Raikkonen |
206 |
| 4. |
Lewis Hamilton |
190 |
| 5. |
Mark Webber |
167 |
| 6. |
Jenson Button |
163 |
| 7. |
Felipe Massa |
107 |
| 8. |
Romain Grosjean |
96 |
| 9. |
Nico Rosberg |
93 |
| 10 |
Sergio Perez |
66 |
Attending the Grand Prix in Style
Circuit of the Americas Experiences guests enjoyed the United States Grand Prix in style. Guests were invited to a hospitality venue behind the main grandstand and enjoyed the rumble of the race with luxurious accommodations.
Guests were treated to a VIP hospitality experience at Circuit of the Americas, which included an enclosed venue with premium food, bar, simulcast televisions, appearances by racing legends and much more!
The hospitality venue kicked off on Saturday with an appearance from one of Formula One's best, Mario Andretti. A busy man on race day, Andretti shared a few minutes signing autographs with guests before heading back to the Paddock area. Some guests were lucky enough to snap a picture with the racing legend who one the Formula One World Championship in 1978!
On Sunday, guests were treated to an exclusive appearance by Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran. Ferran held a Q&A session with former Formula One reporter Louise Goodman, discussing his thoughts on the new Circuit and his career in auto racing. Guests also submitted questions of their own, asking Ferran about his racing career, favorite tracks, and even his favorite food!
After the Q&A session, Ferran signed autographs and posed for pictures with several of the Circuit of the Americas Experiences guests. He even talked one-on-one with many of the guests asking them about their interest in Formula One racing.
In addition to Formula One racing legends, guests experienced the mind-bending magic of Matthew Furman inside the hospitality party venue. Furman wowed guests with a variety of tricks and illusions that left many guests wondering, "How did he do that?" I'm still trying to figure out how he turned the five one dollar bills into five hundreds!
What was your favorite moment from the 2012 Formula One United States Grand Prix? Share your thoughts below!
Welcome to Austin, Formula One
Formula One Racing is back in the United States!
For the first time since 2007, the United States will host the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. Previously held in Indianapolis, the United States Grand Prix dates to 1908 and was one of the premier races on the Formula One World Championship schedule.
Austin, Texas will be the site of this year's event at the recently constructed Circuit of The Americas. Covering over 1,000 acres, The Circuit is the only FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States, and one of only 26 Grade 1-certified motorsports facilities in the world.
The Circuit of the Americas track is a 3.4-mile circuit track with capacity for 120,000 fans and an elevation change of 133 feet. It will also be the site of the 2013 Grand-AM, 2013 MotoGP Championship, and 2013 V8 Supercars Championship.
The new circuit poses several challenges for teams and drivers. With a limited amount of time to prepare for the new surface, drivers will rely on simulators and pre-race practice to develop a better understanding of the twist and turns of Circuit of The Americas.
Pedro de la Rosa of HRT stated, "The truth is we don’t know much about this circuit. All I know about it is from what I’ve seen on the Internet. The first thing that strikes you about this track is the number of gradient changes and how extreme they are. The important thing is for our car to adapt well to this circuit and we will dedicate Friday to learning the track and setting up the car."
Many teams and drivers are in this position, which should even the field for next weekend's race. The team who can adapt the fastest will likely win this year's United States Grand Prix!
United States Grand Prix Preview
The excitement of United States Formula One racing is amplified by what is on the line at the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX.
This weekend's race is likely to decide both the 2012 drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the Formula One World Championship.
Current Driver Standings
| Position |
Driver |
Points |
| 1. |
Sebastian Vettel |
255 |
| 2. |
Fernando Alonso |
245 |
| 3. |
Kimi Räikkönen |
198 |
| 4. |
Mark Webber |
167 |
| 5. |
Lewis Hamilton |
165 |
| 6. |
Jenson Button |
153 |
| 7. |
Felipe Massa |
95 |
| 8. |
Nico Rosberg |
93 |
| 9. |
Romain Grosjean |
90 |
| 10. |
Sergio Perez |
66
|
The race for the Formula One Drivers' Championship has come down to Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. With two races remaining, Vettel holds a 10 point lead on Alonso for this year's World Championship.
If Vettel can hold on to the points lead, he will become the first driver to win three consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championships since Michael Schumacher. Vettel will face a far greater challenge this year as opposed to 2011. Last year, Vettel clinched the World Championship by Race 15 with a 122 point margin. With only 10 points separating first and second, Vettel will need to finish ahead of Alonso to secure his third consecutive championship.
Alonso is no stranger to winning World Championships. A two-time winner in 2005 & 2006, Alonso looks to recapture some of the momentum he gained earlier in the season. A three time winner in 2012, Alonso hasn't won a race since July when he captured the German Grand Prix. A win in Austin will put pressure on the resurgent Vettel and line-up a showdown in Brazil later this month.
Current Team Standings
| Position |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Red Bull Racing-Renault |
422 |
| 2. |
Ferrari |
340 |
| 3. |
McLaren-Mercedes |
318 |
| 4. |
Lotus-Renault |
288 |
| 5. |
Mercedes |
136 |
Along with Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Racing-Renault is poised to capture its third straight Formula One World Constructors' Championship. With two races remaining and 82 point lead, it's virtually assured that Red Bull Racing-Renault will win this year's championship.
Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel have combined for seven wins in 2012, including four out of the last five races. Hard to believe that it's been a far cry from their 2011 performance where Webber and Vettel combined for 12 wins that season!
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa need an impressive showing in Austin to keep them in the running. A one-two finish in Austin is needed from Alonso and Massa, including some additional poor performances from Red Bull Racing-Renault. It's a lot to ask, but it could happen!
Who do you think will capture this year's Drivers' Championship? Share your pick below!
Entertain at Circuit of The Americas
Looking to entertain your employees or clients at the new Circuit of The Americas™ track in Austin? Well Circuit of The Americas Experiences is your one stop shop for the best in corporate hospitality for all of the racing events at Circuit of The Americas.
Circuit of The Americas Experiences is proud to be the Official Ticket, Hospitality and Travel Package Provider for Circuit of The Americas’ auto races in 2012 and 2013. Our official ticket packages are designed to provide our guests with exclusive benefits and unparalleled access you cannot obtain anywhere else.
Whether you are a corporate group or entertaining some of your best clients, Circuit of The Americas Experiences will provide a unique and unforgettable experience.
So, why Circuit of The Americas Experiences? Here are five reasons why you should book through us!
5 Reasons to Pick Circuit of The Americas Experiences
1. Security
Official Ticket Packages come direct from Circuit of The Americas and offer our guests the peace of mind that there is no risk of broker and scalper integrity.
2. VIP Access
Circuit of The Americas Experiences’ Official Ticket Packages gives guests unparalleled access to in-track hospitality party venues at Circuit of The Americas. Our hospitality part venues are climate-controlled and include food, premium bars, simulcast TV coverage, and much more!
3. Block Seating
Don't be concerned about being separated from your group! Circuit of The Americas Experiences is able to offer block seating requests so you can enjoy the races together. If you want to bring a large group to the races, Circuit of the Americas Experiences can accommodate your needs.
4. Convenience
To ensure a first class experience, Circuit of The Americas Experiences' Official Ticket Packages are all-inclusive. Official Ticket Packages include tickets, access to VIP hospitality party venues, insider extras, accommodations and more exclusive extras you won’t find anywhere else! From tickets, to accommodations, to transportation, Circuit of The Americas Experiences has you covered.
5. Accommodations
Our Official Ticket Packages have a variety of accommodation options and upgrade alternatives to ensure the ultimate experience for our guests. Enjoy your stay at a spectrum of choices at some of the most luxurious hotels located in the track's surrounding areas.
Circuit of The Americas
World class racing has returned to the United States!
Situated on a 1000-acre site in southeast Austin, Texas, Circuit of The Americas is the first facility in the United States that has been purpose-built to host Grand Prix races, including the Formula One World Championships™.
Circuit of the Americas will hold its first prestigious Formula One race this winter with the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. The track will be the site of the United States Grand Prix until 2023 and V8 SUPERCARS from 2013-2018.
"Built around a state-of-the-art 3.4-mile circuit track with capacity for 120,000 fans and an elevation change of 133 feet, the facility is designed for any and all classes of racing – from motor power, to human power" - CircuitofTheAmericas.com.
But don't be fooled. Circuit of The Americas is far more than a racetrack. The circuit also features a variety of permanent structures designed for business, education, and entertainment including:
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Racing amenities including a private Motorsports Driving Club and a Karting Track
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Public spaces for private events, seminars and conventions
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Visitor attractions that include a live entertainment space, retail center and museum
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A center with research facilities and robust services and amenities to power a broad range of business, technology and education allies
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40,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Conference/Media Center
Book Your Circuit of the Americas Experience!
Check out our Official Ticket Package offerings to the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX and see the benefits that can only come with the Official source for Circuit of The Americas ticket packages. Tickets are selling fast, so reserve yours today!