Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[V8 Supercars rumble Circuit of the Americas at the Austin 400]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nissan Altima V8 Supercar at COTA - lifting wheels in a corner

In case you missed it, Australia's V8 Supercars racing series - think of it as a cross between ALMS GT and NASCAR - roared through Texas this past weekend providing entertainment for more than 68,000 fans who were in attendance at the Austin 400 held at the impressive Circuit of the Americas venue. The three-day Championship event included four qualifying sessions and four 100 kilometer sprint races, all run nearly flat-out.

The series' inaugural event on U.S. soil didn't disappoint.

The cars are based on production Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore, Nissan Altima and Mercedes-Benz E-Class models, each fitted with a thunderous 5.0-liter V8 (rated at roughly 650 horsepower) sending power to the rear wheels through a sequential gearbox. The drivers sit on the right, protected by a sturdy tube-frame chassis and plenty of honeycomb crush space - good thing, as car-to-car contact and jumping curbs is the rule of the game (check out the gallery for a closer look at the carnage).

The series' inaugural event on U.S. soil didn't disappoint. Fans, Americans joined by a large contingent of Aussies who made the long trek over the Pacific, jumped to their feet for each standing start as dozens of roaring V8 Supercars peeled off to be first up COTA's tricky Turn 1 (the cars have no traction control or ABS). Each sprint lasted less than an hour, with one mandatory pit for tires, so the field was constantly changing position.

As all of the foreign drivers were new to the circuit (the Aussies nicknamed the tall white observation tower, with red trailing pipes, "The Mullet"), it took some time for each team to acclimate to its challenges and develop strategy. More than once, a car fell back in the pack when it followed the wrong line through Turns 3-6, and it was wedged out of position at the exit (of course, being V8 Supercars, the tall curbs hardly seemed to deter).

Holden's Jamie Whincup, racing under the Red Bull label, took three of the races, while the one remaining event was won by Fabian Coulthard, also driving a Holden, for the Lockwood Racing team. We were embedded with the teams from Nissan. Their Altima sedans, unveiled just months ago, fared well with several top-ten finishes - impressive results for a new team competing in this well-established series. The next event is at Hidden Valley Raceway, in Darwin, from June 14-16... and, based on the overwhelmingly positive response from the fans, the series already has plans to come back to the States in 2014.

V8 Supercars rumble Circuit of the Americas at the Austin 400 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australian racingcircuit of the americascotanissannissan altimasupercarsv8 supercarsv8 supercars altimaFri, 24 May 2013 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20580639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/24/v8-supercars-rumble-circuit-of-the-americas-at-the-austin-400/20580639/article-detail.xml 20580639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/nissan-altima-v8-supercar-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/nissan-altima-v8-supercar-628.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Lexus IS F]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/2013-lexus-is-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/2013-lexus-is-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/2013-lexus-is-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Lexus IS F - white - front three-quarter view

Sometimes fortune really smiles on even shiftless car-reviewing Dutchmen like myself, I must admit. I had come into Austin, TX the week before I was supposed to meet up with the good people at Lexus, who had graciously invited me to drive the 2014 IS. I flew in early because Austin is a pretty good place to eat, as well as being a place that my wife doesn't live. Let me say that a nicer way... while my stunningly attractive wife pretty much represents all things good and light in this world, she does occasionally shoot me a sideways glance when I dig in for my fifth Tacodeli breakfast taco. Thankfully, I leave most of my good sense and information about the effects of high-calorie diets on lifespan at home with Molly when I come to Texas, so I can better focus my laser-like attention on car reviews and TexMex. You guys are worth it.

Aside from all the tacos, I was also lucky to be visiting town the weekend before South By Southwest really kicked off in earnest, because it was that Sunday that my good old buddy John, and my new old buddy Pat, were headed up to the Circuit of the Americas to see the first ever SCCA Majors event there. It was lucky that I had planned to be out at CotA, which is east of Austin, because that made it very slightly easier for a very nice woman named Marcia to bring me a 2013 Lexus IS F from Houston, roughly 150 miles away.

Marcia brought me the IS F to replace another press car, which was having mechanical troubles; I didn't ask for the fire-breathing IS but when it was offered up I figured I couldn't do much better as a warm up for the 2014 IS program I was about to go on. See, lucky right?

Driving Notes
  • It's been a long time since we've written up a review of the IS F, so let me remind everyone of a critical fact: this car lives just inside the borders of sanity. Forget for a moment that the 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque from the 5.0-liter V8 is actually starting to sound modest in today's turbo and biturbo days, and pay attention to the fact that the IS-F might be the easiest luxury car to get sideways that I've ever driven. Power delivery to the rear wheels via the quick-spinning V8 is incredibly rapid, so if you are inclined to introduce even smidge of steering lock into the equation, you're bound to go drifting, boy. Good thing hadn't just finished watching hours of racing at a Formula One track right after I picked the car up... oh, wait.
  • In many ways, the newly sporting character of the more basic IS350 is a direct result of lessons learned building this IS F. The eight-speed automatic is a carryover from the F to the new IS, even though it's handling a lot less power in the new application. I actually don't think it works quite as well in manual mode in the IS F as it does in the new IS, primarily because it doesn't react quite quickly enough to smoothly handle all the power of the quick-revving engine. I found myself really needing to shift up a beat or so before I would have expected to in order to account for the lag in the transmission. Not a horrible thing after getting used to it, but it does make it harder to squeeze out those last rpms before having to shift up. Automatic mode is unobtrusive, however, and that's what I used for three-quarters of my driving in downtown Austin, for sure.
  • When I got this IS F in Austin, I was immediately transported to the first drive I'd ever had of the car, and recapitulated my thoughts on what a bruiser it is. There's very little "Lexus-like" about how the IS F rides and handles. It's stiff and almost brittle over badly surfaced roads (of which Texas has far fewer of than Michigan, thank God), with practically zero lean in hard corners. It is also loud when accelerating hard, having a flat, metallic bark of an exhaust note that seems better-suited to a Nissan Z car than anything wearing the Lexus lazy L badge. It's almost as if the Lexus performance engineers got sort of pissed about getting teased in the Luxury Car Lunchroom and built a sort of psycho mini muscle car to get back their street cred. Yes, that means it's awesome.
  • You can really see how far the Lexus interior design team has come between the launch of the IS F in 2007 and now. This older style car seems like a much less mature version of the 2014 IS, albeit with many of the same materials. The IS F has got loads of high-gloss carbon fiber, bright white leather and shiny black trim. None of that is bad, per se, in fact, John (who generally hates new cars as a rule) claimed to like the simplicity with which the controls were laid out, but it does feel immediately behind the times when compared with more recent Lexus interiors.
  • On that front, Lexus doesn't have plans to discontinue the IS F in the face of the new IS. I was told that this car will stay on sale concurrently with the new model, presumably until Lexus decides to built a second generation of the F. Frankly, I couldn't even get them to confirm that a followup version of the F is set in stone at all.
  • This is a completely tiny, annoying-car-writer bitch, but I can't help myself: How in the hell did the overlords at Toyota sign off on a front cupholder setup this bad? The IS just has that one easy-to-use front cupholder for the front two seats. The second one requires you to drive with the center armrest pad lifted up to use. Am I the only one that ever drives with a passenger and two beverages? Has the whole world gone crazy? As soon as I saw that the new IS had remedied this with two normal cupholders, I jumped up in the air just like those Toyota commercials from the 1980s, I swear.

2013 Lexus IS F originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 lexus is-fcircuit of the americaslexuslexus is-fquickspintacodeliMon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20508673/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/2013-lexus-is-f/20508673/article-detail.xml 20508673 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-lexus-is-f-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-lexus-is-f-628.jpg <![CDATA[Michael Schumacher has driven around the Earth twice in an F1 car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/michael-schumacher-has-driven-around-the-earth-twice-in-an-f1-ca/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/michael-schumacher-has-driven-around-the-earth-twice-in-an-f1-ca/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/michael-schumacher-has-driven-around-the-earth-twice-in-an-f1-ca/#commentsFiled under: ,



In Texas, during what will go down as one of the absolute best inaugural Grand Prix weekends in series history, there was yet another Formula One record set by his lordship, the soon to retire Michael Schumacher of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 squad. And, no, it wasn't his finishing in 16th place and lapped by the leaders that got the attention. Nor was it his recent purchase of a 500-acre horse ranch in Texas.

While watching the broadcast television coverage, the chief commentator announced that, upon the completion of Lap 10 of the 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas, Schumacher became the most traveled Formula One pilot in history. That lap saw him clock 80,000 kilometers - or 49,710 miles - in competition in an F1 car over 19 seasons. By the time he finishes the 2012 F1 season finale on November 25th in Brazil, that'll be over two-times the 24,901-mile circumference of planet Earth driven in a Formula One car.

This feat outdistanced the record set by his former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, though it is not known if Barrichello came to the Mercedes trailer after the race to congratulate the seven-time F1 champ. Rubens was, after all, a guest of honor over at the Ferrari compound.

Michael Schumacher has driven around the Earth twice in an F1 car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit of the americascotadistancef1formula onemercedesmichael schumacherrecordschumachertexasusgpWed, 21 Nov 2012 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20383096/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/21/michael-schumacher-has-driven-around-the-earth-twice-in-an-f1-ca/20383096/article-detail.xml 20383096 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/michael-schumaker-usgp-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/michael-schumaker-usgp-628.jpg <![CDATA[2012 US Grand Prix, remember the <s>Alamo</s> Circuit of the Americas [spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/2012-us-grand-prix-remember-the-alamo-circuit-of-the-ame/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/2012-us-grand-prix-remember-the-alamo-circuit-of-the-ame/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/2012-us-grand-prix-remember-the-alamo-circuit-of-the-ame/#commentsFiled under:

F1 US Grand Prix graphic

There were 56 laps run in Austin's Travis County prairie to complete the inaugural United States Grand Prix at the newly minted Circuit of the Americas. Coming into the race, there were nothing but questions and calculations: Would the track be any good for Formula One? Could Red Bull Racing get the five points it needed to take the F1 Constructor's Championship? Would Turn One be the Golgotha everyone predicted? Would the race be the triumphal return to America that everyone was afraid to predict? Could Sauber get enough points to overhaul a struggling Mercedes-AMG Petronas team for fifth in the Constructor's Championship? Could Marussia manage a twelfth-placed finish to overhaul Caterham? Could official track ambassador Mario Andretti conduct a post-race interview?

And most importantly, could Sebastian Vettel put an end to the issue of the Driver's Championship? He would put up a Texas-sized fight...

Continue reading 2012 US Grand Prix, remember the Alamo Circuit of the Americas [spoilers]

2012 US Grand Prix, remember the Alamo Circuit of the Americas [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 us grand prixaustincircuit of the americascotaf1fernando alonsoferrariformula 1formula onelewis hamiltonred bullsebastian vetteltexasus grand prixusgpMon, 19 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20383111/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/19/2012-us-grand-prix-remember-the-alamo-circuit-of-the-ame/20383111/article-detail.xml 20383111 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/usgp1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/usgp1.jpg <![CDATA[Ecclestone seeking many more US races for F1?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/ecclestone-seeking-many-more-us-races-for-f1/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/ecclestone-seeking-many-more-us-races-for-f1/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/ecclestone-seeking-many-more-us-races-for-f1/#commentsFiled under:

Bernie Ecclestone with palm trees

Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly interested in adding more American Formula One races to the sport's schedule. The CEO was quoted as saying "America is about as big as Europe. So we should have the same number of races [in each]." Since next season will see a total of seven events on European soil, it would seem to indicate Ecclestone is keen to swell the number of American races significantly. The 2013 season was supposed to see US competitions with teams stopping in Austin, Texas at the new Circuit of the Americas and in New Jersey for a race on a public street course. The latter event has been cancelled until at least 2014 due to financial and time constraints.

F1 still doesn't draw nearly the attention in the US as it does elsewhere in the world, but sponsors are doubtlessly very aware of the sport's advertising potential in one of the world's largest auto markets. For now, Ecclestone is keeping his mouth shut about where future US races could be located.

Ecclestone seeking many more US races for F1? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernie ecclestonecircuit of the americasecclestonef1f1 in the usformula 1formula oneus f1Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20379846/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/14/ecclestone-seeking-many-more-us-races-for-f1/20379846/article-detail.xml 20379846 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/bernie-ecclestone-with-palm-trees_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/bernie-ecclestone-with-palm-trees.jpg <![CDATA[Circuit of the Americas officially opens, Mario Andretti takes inaugural lap]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/circuit-of-the-americas-officially-opens-mario-andretti-takes-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/circuit-of-the-americas-officially-opens-mario-andretti-takes-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/circuit-of-the-americas-officially-opens-mario-andretti-takes-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Vintage John Player Special racer at Circuit Of the Americas opening

Mario Andretti and Patrick Dempsey were among many other racers on hand over the weekend for the grand opening of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. With the Formula One US Grand Prix set for November 18, the track surface is ready for action, but there is still plenty of work to be done before the track's opening race.

Andretti cut a ceremonial ribbon and then completed the track's first lap in the same Lotus 79 racecar in which he won six races and a World Championship in 1978. The legendary driver commented on how unique the elevated Turn One will be, calling it the track's "marquee corner." After Andretti hit the track, other vehicles also put laps on the newly finished course including a unique three-seater F1 car.

Formula One will kick off the racing at the new track, but COTA will also host races for MotoGP, American Le Mans Series, Australian V8 Supercars and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars Series. Check out the video of the news report below along with some additional videos showing cars in action around the brand-new track.

Continue reading Circuit of the Americas officially opens, Mario Andretti takes inaugural lap

Circuit of the Americas officially opens, Mario Andretti takes inaugural lap originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinaustin texascircuit of the americascotalotus 79mario andrettivideoTue, 23 Oct 2012 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20356526/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/23/circuit-of-the-americas-officially-opens-mario-andretti-takes-i/20356526/article-detail.xml 20356526 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/andretti-cota_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/andretti-cota.jpg <![CDATA[Ecclestone says New Jersey F1 "definitely" not going to happen in 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/ecclestone-says-new-jersey-f1-definitely-not-going-to-happen-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/ecclestone-says-new-jersey-f1-definitely-not-going-to-happen-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/ecclestone-says-new-jersey-f1-definitely-not-going-to-happen-i/#commentsFiled under:



Six months ago, we were going to have two Formula One grands prix in America in 2013 - the Austin round at the Circuit of the Americas track and the Grand Prix of America on the streets of New Jersey. Then, three months ago, F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone told BBC Sport that the event could be pushed back to 2014, without elaborating as to why. This week, Bernie's told BBC Sport again that "No. Definitely no," the NJ race wouldn't go down in 2013, this time clarifying that it's because he doesn't expect the track to be ready.

He then backtracked by by saying it's still possible if the track is ready, and that "If they can get it completed and confirm to us it will be done, for sure, they'll be on the calendar." The event organizers say they're ahead of schedule, but Ecclestone said he's not as confident as they are. This month Sebastian Vettel drove the course and declared it "nowhere near ready," but that's to be expected since the race is a year away.

The Grand Prix of America has as much time as time to get a street circuit prepared as Austin did to get a dedicated track done, and so far, the GPoA hasn't suffered any of the funding and construction snafus that plagued Austin. We don't know what Ecclestone knows, but he doubted Austin's prospects as well and here they are, so we'll keep the faith in New Jersey.

Ecclestone says New Jersey F1 "definitely" not going to happen in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernie ecclestonecircuit of the americasf1formula 1grand prixgrand prix of americamotorsportsnew jerseynew jersey grand prixnj grand prixTue, 26 Jun 2012 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20265814/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/26/ecclestone-says-new-jersey-f1-definitely-not-going-to-happen-i/20265814/article-detail.xml 20265814 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/njgrandprixdate_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/njgrandprixdate.jpg <![CDATA[Circuit of the Americas announces 15,000 extra seats for U.S. Grand Prix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/circuit-of-the-americas-announces-15-000-extra-seats-for-u-s-gr/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/circuit-of-the-americas-announces-15-000-extra-seats-for-u-s-gr/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/26/circuit-of-the-americas-announces-15-000-extra-seats-for-u-s-gr/#commentsFiled under:

Circuit of the Americas

Austin Formula 1 Grand Prix organizers have said that tickets to the race sold so well that they've decided to add more seating - according to the circuit chart, everything but premium grandstand seating is all gone.

Just a few days ago, ESPN F1 reported that the Circuit of the Americas was considering more grandstands between turns 9 and 10 and turns 10 and 11 "in place of other types of seating that had been planned for those areas." Now it's done: grandstands have been added at those two spots adding space for 15,000 more butts come race weekend.

What'll it run you? A search on Ticketmaster for one ticket yielded a grandstand seat at Turn 9 for $315.24 for the three-day weekend, plus shipping and any fees. If that's too rich, General Admission tickets for $171.99, inclusive of fees, are still in stock.

Circuit of the Americas announces 15,000 extra seats for U.S. Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hermann Tilke designed the Austin F1 circuit, and no one is quite sure if he's recreated the magic of Turkey or the borefest of Valencia. With 133 feet of elevation change, though, the 3.4 mile Circuit of the Americas and its 20 turns should be closer to the former. The track will feature in Codemasters' "F1 2012" video game, and Motorworld Hype was given a virtual tour by Codemasters designer Paul Jeal at E3.

Aside from the overexposure, the track and the game both look worthy of further investigation. Scroll down to check it out, as well as a longer video of chief designer Stephen Hood doing three laps in Lewis Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes.

Continue reading Take a virtual lap of Austin's Circuit of the Americas

Take a virtual lap of Austin's Circuit of the Americas originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Circuit of the Americas

The American Le Mans Series has announced that the 2013 season will include a race at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, which is currently under construction in preparation for the upcoming Formula One race in November. The last time ALMS held an event in Texas was in 2007, when it raced on a street course in Houston.

"The opportunity to partner with the Circuit of The Americas and bring North America's premier sports car racing series to fans across Texas, at what is going to be one of the finest road-racing facilities in the world, is a natural fit for all involved," ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton said. "The addition of Circuit of the Americas to our schedule will be very well-received by our fans and stakeholders alike. We know we have a lot of ALMS fans in Texas, and for our teams, manufacturers and sponsors, Austin and the surrounding region represent an important new business market."

Specific dates for the race are still to be announced, although ALMS says that it will be a springtime event. The full 2013 race schedule will be announced later this year. You can read the full announcement from the American Le Mans Series below.

Continue reading ALMS confirms 2013 race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas

ALMS confirms 2013 race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsalms austin 2013american le mans seriescircuit of the americasMon, 04 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20249853/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/04/alms-confirms-2013-race-at-austins-circuit-of-the-americas/20249853/article-detail.xml 20249853 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/circuit-of-the-americas-alms_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/circuit-of-the-americas-alms.jpg <![CDATA[Austin's new F1 track will debut in video game]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/austins-new-f1-track-will-debut-in-video-game/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/austins-new-f1-track-will-debut-in-video-game/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/01/austins-new-f1-track-will-debut-in-video-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

F1 2012 Circuit of the Americas - Codemasters' F1 2012 game screencap

Workers outside of Austin are still hammering away on the new Circuit of the Americas Formula One track, but race fans and gamers will get a shot at driving the course before the first tire hits the tarmac. Codemasters' "F1 2012" will feature the track in all of its pixelized glory. The game will officially hit the market this September, but players will get a chance to grab the controller for the first time at E3 early next week. Codemasters has been kind enough to slip the world a few screen shots of 2012-specification F1 cars prancing around on the new course.

Players will be able to command every official team from 2012 on all of the official courses. Look for the game on multiple platforms, including Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft xBox 360, PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS. Head over to the game's site for more information.

Austin's new F1 track will debut in video game originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austincircuit of the americasdriving gamedriving simulatore3f1f1 2012f1 racingf1 simulatorformula 1formula onegamingplaystation 3sony playstationvideo gamexboxxbox 350Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20249358/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/01/austins-new-f1-track-will-debut-in-video-game/20249358/article-detail.xml 20249358 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-f1-2012-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-f1-2012-628.jpg <![CDATA[Circuit of the Americas opens waitlist for United States Grand Prix tickets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/circuit-of-the-americas-opens-waitlist-for-united-states-grand-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/circuit-of-the-americas-opens-waitlist-for-united-states-grand-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/circuit-of-the-americas-opens-waitlist-for-united-states-grand-p/#commentsFiled under:

Circuit of the Americas grandstand illustration

Just under 300 days separate us from the return of the United States Grand Prix. At least that's the idea, now that construction has resumed on the troubled Circuit of the Americas on the outskirts of Austin, Texas. But an encouraging sign is that race organizers have started gearing up to sell tickets.

While seats haven't exactly been put up for sale just yet, organizers are now populating a wait list for premium seats. Those constitute seats with an advantageous view of the action, covered from the Texas sun, with priority parking and concessions.

No matter how many seats you'll want to buy, you can get your name down on that list with a $100 deposit. If General Admission is more your pace, however, those won't begin selling until the summer.

Circuit of the Americas opens waitlist for United States Grand Prix tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austincircuit of the americasf1formula 1formula onetexasunited states gpunited states grand prixus grand prixusgpWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20155875/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/25/circuit-of-the-americas-opens-waitlist-for-united-states-grand-p/20155875/article-detail.xml 20155875 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/cotagrandstand_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/cotagrandstand.jpg <![CDATA[Last-minute deal saves 2012 United States Grand Prix in Austin]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/last-minute-deal-saves-2012-united-states-grand-prix-in-austin/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/last-minute-deal-saves-2012-united-states-grand-prix-in-austin/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/last-minute-deal-saves-2012-united-states-grand-prix-in-austin/#commentsFiled under: ,

United States Grand Prix

Everything is bigger in Texas. So it's appropriate that the hubbub surrounding the imminent return of the United States Grand Prix to the Lonestar State should come down to a big last-minute deal.

As you may recall, Formula One was set to come to Austin next year at a new track complex currently being built. However, construction on the Circuit of the Americas came to a halt after F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone expressed his doubts that they'd be able to pull it off. The problem apparently came down to public funding, which was reportedly delayed when the state comptroller told organizers they'd have to wait. With the $25 million bond due to Ecclestone's Formula One Management this week, an undisclosed last-minute deal has reportedly come through to get Bernie his money.

As a result, race organizers have reportedly secured the event's place on next year's calendar as planned, and construction will reportedly resume immediately now that the deal is a go. Somehow, we doubt this will be the last hiccup along the path of bringing Europe's favorite racing series to Texas, but for now it looks like everything is racing ahead.

Last-minute deal saves 2012 United States Grand Prix in Austin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbernie ecclestonecircuit of the americasecclestonef1formula 1formula onetexasunited states gpunited states grand prixus grand prixusgpWed, 07 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20122659/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/07/last-minute-deal-saves-2012-united-states-grand-prix-in-austin/20122659/article-detail.xml 20122659 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/austinf1-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/austinf1-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Construction on Austin's Circuit of the Americas has stopped]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/construction-on-austins-circuit-of-the-americas-has-stopped/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/construction-on-austins-circuit-of-the-americas-has-stopped/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/construction-on-austins-circuit-of-the-americas-has-stopped/#commentsFiled under:



If you were among those who thought that Formula One and Texas would go together like pickles and ice cream, well, you may be right. And you may not be terribly disappointed, either, by the latest news surrounding the United States Grand Prix.

The first F1 race to come to the United States in half a decade was scheduled to take place next year in Austin, Texas. However, following doubts expressed by F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone on the project's progress, the latest development has construction on the Circuit of the Americas - the new motorsport complex being built to host the event - grinding to a halt.

A statement released by the track's administration confirms that the construction project has been put on hold indefinitely over a dispute with the company responsible for promoting the race. Apparently, Full Throttle Productions has yet to produce an actual contract with Formula One Management, or with organizers of the MotoGP series, prompting those behind the Circuit of the Americas to send home the 300 workers building it until Full Throttle can demonstrate that it will be used.

Here's hoping the parties can resolve their dispute and get back to business. Otherwise we'll have to wait another year for the Grand Prix of America to arrive in New Jersey. Follow the jump for the official announcement.

Continue reading Construction on Austin's Circuit of the Americas has stopped

Construction on Austin's Circuit of the Americas has stopped originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinaustin texascircuit of the americasf1formula 1formula onefull throttle productionstexasunited states grand prixWed, 16 Nov 2011 16:51:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20107763/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/16/construction-on-austins-circuit-of-the-americas-has-stopped/20107763/article-detail.xml 20107763 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/cota-construction_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/cota-construction.jpg <![CDATA[Ecclestone casts doubts on Austin F1 race in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/ecclestone-casts-doubts-on-austin-f1-race-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/ecclestone-casts-doubts-on-austin-f1-race-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/ecclestone-casts-doubts-on-austin-f1-race-in-2012/#commentsFiled under:

Bernie Ecclestone

After a five-year absence, the United States is set to gain two Formula One races within the next two years: one in Austin, Texas, and another in New Jersey. But recent comments vocalized by F1's ever-outspoken commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone have cast doubt on the former.

Speaking at this past weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ecclestone has been quoted as saying that progress on building the Circuit of the Americas that's set to host the United States Grand Prix next year is lagging behind schedule. According to the ESPN report, Ecclestone says the relevant parties behind the project on the ground have "forgotten to talk to each other."

Does that mean the race won't happen? Hardly. Setbacks, of course, happen all the time with construction projects like this one, and similar concerns have been expressed over new venues such as the Indian Grand Prix, the Korean Grand Prix and the aforementioned Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that have been successively added to the calendar over the past three years.

The American race, however, isn't the only one who's future is in doubt. Financial concerns stand to cancel the Turkish Grand Prix next season, and after political unrest caused the removal of the Bahrain Grand Prix from this year's calendar, there's no telling what continuing tumult in the Middle East could mean for the prospect of F1 racing there.

Ecclestone casts doubts on Austin F1 race in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbernie ecclestonecircuit of the americasecclestonef1formula 1formula onetexasunited states gpunited states grand prixus grand prixusgpTue, 15 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20106871/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/15/ecclestone-casts-doubts-on-austin-f1-race-in-2012/20106871/article-detail.xml 20106871 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/ecclestone-thinks_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/ecclestone-thinks.jpg <![CDATA[Red Bull and David Coulthard off-road Austin's Circuit of the Americas, again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/red-bull-and-david-coulthard-off-road-circuit-of-the-americas-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/red-bull-and-david-coulthard-off-road-circuit-of-the-americas-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/red-bull-and-david-coulthard-off-road-circuit-of-the-americas-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Red Bull at Austin Circuit of the Americas

If you don't think David Coulthard has the coolest job on the planet, that's just because you haven't seen this video yet.

As you may recall, the Formula One driver and Red Bull recently headed down to Austin to display their excitement over the sport's return to American soil. Coulthard and his Red Bull racer got the chance to play with a few cowboys on Red McCombs' ranch before taking to public streets in the F1 car. That included a quick stop for doughnuts in front of the capitol building before heading off to the dirt bones of the new track for a little fun.

As far as we know, Coulthard is the first driver to have a crack at the track in any state or form, and we have to say that watching his carbon-fiber beast skip across the dry Texas dirt is enough to bring a smile to our eyes. From the looks of things, the Texas facility will provide a plenty challenging course for the world's best drivers. We can't wait to see it completed. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Red Bull and David Coulthard off-road Austin's Circuit of the Americas, again

Red Bull and David Coulthard off-road Austin's Circuit of the Americas, again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinaustin grand prixaustin texascircuit of the americasdavid coulthardf1formula oneformula one austinred bullu.s. grand prixWed, 21 Sep 2011 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20048953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/21/red-bull-and-david-coulthard-off-road-circuit-of-the-americas-a/20048953/article-detail.xml 20048953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/red-bull-texas_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/red-bull-texas.jpg <![CDATA[Ready or not, David Coulthard and Red Bull Racing arrive in Austin [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/23/ready-or-not-david-coulthard-and-red-bull-racing-arrive-in-aust/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/23/ready-or-not-david-coulthard-and-red-bull-racing-arrive-in-aust/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/23/ready-or-not-david-coulthard-and-red-bull-racing-arrive-in-aust/#commentsFiled under: ,

David Coulthard in Austin

The Circuit of the Americas isn't quite finished yet, and Austin isn't quite ready for the Formula One circus to roll into town. But apparently someone forgot to tell David Coulthard and the Red Bull Racing team.

David Coulthard in AustinLast week we reported on Red Bull's plans to run a demonstration event in downtown Austin over the weekend, but apparently their plans went a little further than that as their veteran driver took one of their F1 cars for a little spin in and around the Texas capital city.

The event included the foreshadowed run along city streets, but also took DC and the team out for a run through a good ol' Texas cattle ranch, and around the site of the grand prix track that is currently little more than a dirt road.

It's not every day you get to see an F1 car go off-roading, much less on a ranch or in America altogether, so check out the videos after the jump as well as the high-res image gallery.

Continue reading Ready or not, David Coulthard and Red Bull Racing arrive in Austin [w/video]

Ready or not, David Coulthard and Red Bull Racing arrive in Austin [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austincircuit of the americascoultharddavid coulthardf1formula 1formula onerbrred bullred bull racingtexasTue, 23 Aug 2011 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20024613/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/23/ready-or-not-david-coulthard-and-red-bull-racing-arrive-in-aust/20024613/article-detail.xml 20024613 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/webdc-austin_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/webdc-austin.jpg <![CDATA[Circuit of the Americas in Austin coming together before your very eyes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/12/circuit-of-the-americas-in-austin-coming-together-before-your-ve/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/12/circuit-of-the-americas-in-austin-coming-together-before-your-ve/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/12/circuit-of-the-americas-in-austin-coming-together-before-your-ve/#commentsFiled under: , ,

circuit timelapse vidcap

Whether you're driving an F1 car or riding a superbike, getting around any racing circuit this side of the Nürburgring Nordschleife is a rather rapid affair. Which is more than we could say for building one - that bit takes some time. Together with the cash it takes to finance such a venture, that goes some way towards explaining why you don't see it happening every day. But that's what's going on as we speak in Austin, Texas.

The facility is called the Circuit of the Americas, and it's set to host a host of top-level races starting next year, including Formula 1, MotoGP and the V8 Supercar series porting over from Australia. Of course it needs to be completed in order for anything to drive its 3.4 miles and 20 corners.

Fortunately work is well under way, but don't take our word for it: the constructors of the first purpose-built F1 track to be built in the United States have been filming the progress, and have released a quartet of time-lapse videos where you can see the construction unfolding before your very eyes. Just follow the jump and click play.

Continue reading Circuit of the Americas in Austin coming together before your very eyes

Circuit of the Americas in Austin coming together before your very eyes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitcircuit of the americasf1formula 1formula onerace tracktime lapsetime-lapsetimelapsetrackunited states gpunited states grand prixus grand prixusgpvideoFri, 12 Aug 2011 08:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20014840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/12/circuit-of-the-americas-in-austin-coming-together-before-your-ve/20014840/article-detail.xml 20014840 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/circuit-timelapse_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/circuit-timelapse.jpg <![CDATA[United States Grand Prix set to move to November 18, 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/united-states-grand-prix-set-to-move-to-november-18-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/united-states-grand-prix-set-to-move-to-november-18-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/11/united-states-grand-prix-set-to-move-to-november-18-2012/#commentsFiled under:

2006 United States Grand PrixSitting outside for several hours under the beating sun in central Texas in June wouldn't exactly be what most would call their cup of tea... though you might feel like you were being steeped inside of one. That's why Formula One Management is set on moving next year's inaugural United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas to November.

The race was originally scheduled for June 17, one week after the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal when the F1 circus is already in North America. However the possibility of moving it was first mooted a couple of months ago as race organizers were facing off against a vocal lobby bent on shutting down the event at Austin's city council. Having won the municipality's approval, the fear is that a June race would just prove too hot for race fans.

The new date is November 18, when the teams are already sailing back across the Atlantic for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Although the FIA has yet to approve the new date, it is part of a revised calendar for 2012 proposed by Bernie Ecclestone, who is obviously as keen to see the USGP succeed as his Texan partners.

In a related development, the Belgian Grand Prix could begin alternating years in which it is held. The small country with the iconic racing circuit has placed ever-increasing noise and environmental constrictions on the Spa-Francorchamps track, which, coupled with cashflow problems, could see the race alternating with a return of the French Grand Prix that has been missing from the calendar since 2008.

United States Grand Prix set to move to November 18, 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgian grand prixcircuit of the americasf1formula 1formula onespa-francorchampsunited states grand prixus grand prixusgpThu, 11 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20015199/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/11/united-states-grand-prix-set-to-move-to-november-18-2012/20015199/article-detail.xml 20015199 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/renault-indy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/renault-indy.jpg <![CDATA[V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

V8 Supercars series press conference in Austin, TX
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Queensland, Australia Premier Anna Bligh celebrate V8 Supercars agreement

It's official - Australia's V8 Supercars series is set to bash fenders in Austin, Texas in 2013. The news comes hard on the heels of the Austin city council approving the United States Grand Prix Formula One race at the Circuit of the Americas.

The FIA-sanctioned touring car series has signed a five-year contract and the two 124-mile (200-km) races will be televised live on SPEED. The 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas will also play host to MotoGP bike racing, having sewn up that series from 2013 to 2022. Check out the full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013

V8 Supercar Series coming to Austin in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anna blighaustincircuit of the americasrick perrysupercarstexastouring carv8 supercarsThu, 30 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19980789/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/30/v8-supercar-series-coming-to-austin-in-2013/19980789/article-detail.xml 19980789 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/circuit-of-the-americas-v8-supercars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/circuit-of-the-americas-v8-supercars.jpg -1 2