-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
V8 Supercars
V8: Austin GP Problems Cast Doubts On First American Round
The V8 Supercars series' planned debut in America at the Circuit of the Americas in 2013 is looking doubtful after recent track-related issues have come to light.
V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane, left, is waiting patiently in the hopes that Austin GP promoter Tavo Hellmund, right, Hellmund's partners and FOM can get their issues resolved. (V8 Supercars)
As reports of mounting problems continue to build between parties involved with the new Circuit of the Americas facility in Austin, TX., more than the loss of the Austin Grand Prix date is at stake.
Scheduled to host the return of Formula One racing to the United States next November, CotA also announced an additional US-based round of the MotoGP championship and the first-ever Stateside appearance of the V8 Supercars in 2013.
“The addition of V8 Supercars into our lineup at Circuit of The Americas will add to what we already know will be a rich and exhilarating fan experience,” said Steve Sexton, President of Circuit of The Americas, during the July 30th announcement.
“We’re thrilled the racing world is so excited about our facility. Austin is poised to become the premiere North American destination for international motorsports. In addition to hosting the 4 wheel and 2 wheel world championships, the United States will now enjoy the world’s best touring car series here in Austin.”
With track construction brought to a halt in Austin, the likelihood of the V8 series making the trek to compete on the 3.4-mile road course is clearly in jeopardy.
Asked to comment on whether contingency plans exist to host the V8 Supercars’ North American debut somewhere other than the CotA, V8 Chairman Tony Cochrane told SPEED.com he would prefer to steer clear of the conversation.
“V8 Supercars will not comment on the contractual issues between Circuit of the Americas and Formula One Management,” he said. “This is a private, commercial matter between those parties that does not involve V8 Supercars.”
While it has yet to be officially confirmed by the series, Cochrane pointed to the 2013 V8 CotA event being run in a similar format to the popular Gold Coast 600 round held on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
Using 28 guest drivers from a variety of international racing series to partner with the 28 V8 Supercar regulars, the series transformed the Gold Coast weekend into a twin-bill endurance round, holding 300km races on Saturday and Sunday with drivers like 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve, two-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Le Mans legend Emanuele Pirro serving as major attractions.
"(Circuit of the Americas) have a couple of ideas of their own but certainly the idea of American drivers doing one stint of the weekend is one of the ideas on the table,” Cochrane told BigPond Sport last month.
"We've had lots of discussions with the Circuit of The Americas and we're scheduled to meet with them in America in March or April next year. There will likely be a large delegation coming to Adelaide's Clipsal 500 in March, so after they have a look at that event we'll make a decision. By about April next year we'll know the exact date for Texas in 2013, so we'll announce the format and the exact date together."
With drivers from F1, IndyCars, sports cars and touring cars participating, the Gold Coast 600 format, as Cochrane detailed, was expected to carry a North American flavor for 2013, thanks to Ford and GM subsidiary Holden, the two primary manufacturers involved with the series.
Invitations to NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM and ALMS drivers were believed to be in the offering, and provided the CotA track is completed--or another venue can be found--it’s possible the V8 Supercars round and Gold Coast format could be saved.
Northern California’s Infineon Raceway has secured a September 2012 date for the North American debut of the World Touring Car Championship, and as the only domestic track with firm plans to host an international touring car series, adding the V8 Supercars to its calendar, if necessary, could be a possibility.
“It’s always been one of those series that’s been on our radar screen,” Infineon Raceway president and general manager Steve Page told SPEED.com. “It’s something we’d have an interest in looking at. We have not talked to them, but as we look to the future, we’re open to seeing what’s possible.”
Reigning V8 Supercars champion James Courtney is hopeful the planned 2013 race at the CotA goes ahead as scheduled, but if it doesn’t, he wouldn’t mind shifting the event to one of America’s iconic road courses.
“Watkins Glen comes to mind,” he said, while doing the track walk for this weekend’s penultimate V8 race at Sandown Raceway. “I’d love to race there, or Road America, Laguna Seca, Sonoma… There are a lot of great options, but you naturally hope everything gets sorted in Austin.”
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Scheduled to host the return of Formula One racing to the United States next November, CotA also announced an additional US-based round of the MotoGP championship and the first-ever Stateside appearance of the V8 Supercars in 2013.
“The addition of V8 Supercars into our lineup at Circuit of The Americas will add to what we already know will be a rich and exhilarating fan experience,” said Steve Sexton, President of Circuit of The Americas, during the July 30th announcement.
“We’re thrilled the racing world is so excited about our facility. Austin is poised to become the premiere North American destination for international motorsports. In addition to hosting the 4 wheel and 2 wheel world championships, the United States will now enjoy the world’s best touring car series here in Austin.”
With track construction brought to a halt in Austin, the likelihood of the V8 series making the trek to compete on the 3.4-mile road course is clearly in jeopardy.
Asked to comment on whether contingency plans exist to host the V8 Supercars’ North American debut somewhere other than the CotA, V8 Chairman Tony Cochrane told SPEED.com he would prefer to steer clear of the conversation.
“V8 Supercars will not comment on the contractual issues between Circuit of the Americas and Formula One Management,” he said. “This is a private, commercial matter between those parties that does not involve V8 Supercars.”
While it has yet to be officially confirmed by the series, Cochrane pointed to the 2013 V8 CotA event being run in a similar format to the popular Gold Coast 600 round held on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
Using 28 guest drivers from a variety of international racing series to partner with the 28 V8 Supercar regulars, the series transformed the Gold Coast weekend into a twin-bill endurance round, holding 300km races on Saturday and Sunday with drivers like 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve, two-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Le Mans legend Emanuele Pirro serving as major attractions.
"(Circuit of the Americas) have a couple of ideas of their own but certainly the idea of American drivers doing one stint of the weekend is one of the ideas on the table,” Cochrane told BigPond Sport last month.
"We've had lots of discussions with the Circuit of The Americas and we're scheduled to meet with them in America in March or April next year. There will likely be a large delegation coming to Adelaide's Clipsal 500 in March, so after they have a look at that event we'll make a decision. By about April next year we'll know the exact date for Texas in 2013, so we'll announce the format and the exact date together."
With drivers from F1, IndyCars, sports cars and touring cars participating, the Gold Coast 600 format, as Cochrane detailed, was expected to carry a North American flavor for 2013, thanks to Ford and GM subsidiary Holden, the two primary manufacturers involved with the series.
Invitations to NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM and ALMS drivers were believed to be in the offering, and provided the CotA track is completed--or another venue can be found--it’s possible the V8 Supercars round and Gold Coast format could be saved.
Northern California’s Infineon Raceway has secured a September 2012 date for the North American debut of the World Touring Car Championship, and as the only domestic track with firm plans to host an international touring car series, adding the V8 Supercars to its calendar, if necessary, could be a possibility.
“It’s always been one of those series that’s been on our radar screen,” Infineon Raceway president and general manager Steve Page told SPEED.com. “It’s something we’d have an interest in looking at. We have not talked to them, but as we look to the future, we’re open to seeing what’s possible.”
Reigning V8 Supercars champion James Courtney is hopeful the planned 2013 race at the CotA goes ahead as scheduled, but if it doesn’t, he wouldn’t mind shifting the event to one of America’s iconic road courses.
“Watkins Glen comes to mind,” he said, while doing the track walk for this weekend’s penultimate V8 race at Sandown Raceway. “I’d love to race there, or Road America, Laguna Seca, Sonoma… There are a lot of great options, but you naturally hope everything gets sorted in Austin.”
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Supercars Darwin Australia
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Helping Our Heroes
Inside Panther Racing's "Operation: Hire our Guard" program, which… -
INDYCAR: Inside IndyCar's New Speed, Safety And Technology Initiative…
INDYCAR's Derrick Walker takes Marshall Pruett through where the… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the… -
VIDEO: Amazing 4-Wide Finish To Indy Lights Freedom 100
Ireland's Peter Dempsey came from fourth at Turn 3 on the last lap… -
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.24
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
USAC: Honda To Sponsor National Midget Championship
Honda announced it would be the title sponsor for USAC’s National… - More News
