Formula 1 Update
The date is set, Austin's Formula One race moved to November
Updated August 31, 2011: The FIA, Formula 1's ruling body confirmed today that the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix will be held November 18, 2012 at the new Circuit of the Americas track being built in Elroy, just southeast of Austin.
According to the Circuit of the Americas website, "the inaugural Austin race could very well decide the outcome of the 2012 season, as it will be the second-to-last race of the season, running back-to-back with the Brazilian Grand Prix. We at Circuit of The Americas are thrilled with this announcement and look forward to hosting this world-class event at its new world-class destination."
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August 4th, 2011:
The buzz got loud this week over proposed changes to the 2012 Formula One racing schedule. Formula One releases provisional schedules pretty regularly so changes are not unexpected. The race teams and host cities then have a chance to comment (and lobby) before the F1 governing body formally votes to ratify the schedule.
Reports say F1 titan Bernie Eccelstone wants to move the Austin race to late November, as the penultimate race of the season. Along with that change, the Bahrain race would be moved later to allow for more political stability there.
We hate to gloat, but CultureMap's Jake Dirr predicted this would happen, even getting the new date right. Dirr reported in July that Austin's Circuit of the Americas track had a wildly optimistic construction schedule that would be near impossible to meet. Further, Dirr suggested the reason for the early date had everything to do with getting $25 million dollars in state money. That money cannot be paid more than one year before the event is held. Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs planned to make the first payment this week, no payments have been made yet.
There are about 110 reasons to like the change to a November race date — as in degrees fahrenheit. The weather is about 30 degrees cooler in November. The November 18th proposed date also looks to coincide with a Longhorn away date against Kansas State. Further, a race at the end of the season could have chanpionship drama attached to it.
U.S. Grand Prix officials had little comment about the proposals which are again pretty much business as usual for F1. According to the Austin American Statesman, the USGP is continuing to prepare for the original June race date. No doubt they would love a little extra time to get the track ready though.