Circuit of the Americas

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a premier motor racing track and venue situated in Austin, Texas, USA. Covering a distance of 3.426 miles (5.514 km), it holds Grade 1 FIA certification, meeting top international standards. COTA hosts prestigious events including the Formula One United States Grand Prix, NASCAR’s Texas Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas. It has also been a venue for the MotoGP and the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Lone Star Le Mans. Previously, it accommodated various other races such as the Australian V8 Supercars, the Americas Rallycross Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the IndyCar Classic.

The concept for COTA and its associated Grand Prix emerged around mid-2010. Notably, it stands as the first purpose-built Formula One circuit in the United States. The track’s design was a collaborative effort involving promoter Tavo Hellmund, former Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, and renowned German architect and circuit designer Hermann Tilke. Tilke, known for his work on circuits like Sepang, Shanghai, Yas Marina, Istanbul, Bahrain, Yeongam, and Buddh, as well as the redevelopment of Hockenheimring and Fuji Speedway, played a significant role in shaping COTA’s layout.

HISTORY

During a press briefing held on July 27, 2010, Tavo Hellmund unveiled plans for the construction of a new racing track spanning approximately 890 acres of untouched land in southeastern Travis County. Interestingly, the majority of this land was initially designated for a residential development project named “Wandering Creek.” In the same announcement, Hellmund disclosed that prominent Texan billionaire Red McCombs had emerged as the primary investor for the ambitious venture. The proposed circuit design was formally submitted to the FIA in Geneva for evaluation on December 17, 2010. The track’s architectural blueprint was a collaborative effort between HKS, Inc. and Tilke Engineers & Architects, with Austin Commercial, a subsidiary of Austin Industries, overseeing general construction. Groundbreaking commenced on December 31, 2010, with an initial target completion date set for June 2012.

However, construction faced setbacks, including a temporary halt in December 2011, leading to a revised completion deadline of August. Initial construction tasks included erecting silt fences, conducting core samples, and clearing existing vegetation. Notably, on January 21, 2011, a substantial $900,000 deposit was made with Travis County to authorize grading operations. This deposit was earmarked for land restoration in the event of FEMA rejecting the project due to part of the site being situated in a floodplain. Fortunately, FEMA provided approval on June 28, 2011, affirming that the project adhered to its floodplain management criteria.

In January 2012, Travis County announced plans to upgrade Elroy Road, one of the primary access routes to the circuit. The decision came in response to the gradual deterioration of the road surface caused by unstable clay soils beneath it. However, the upgrades were scheduled to be completed after the 2012 race due to timing constraints.

NASCAR RELATION WITH THE COTA

On September 30, 2020, it was revealed that Circuit of the Americas (COTA) would debut as a host for a NASCAR Cup Series event on May 23, 2021, marking a significant milestone in the track’s history. Additionally, the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series were included as supporting races, enriching the inaugural event’s lineup. Subsequently, on December 11, 2020, it was confirmed that NASCAR would utilize the entire 3.426-mile course for the event. Notably, EchoPark Automotive secured naming rights for the Cup race, naming it the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix, while the Xfinity and Truck races were respectively titled the Pit Boss 250 and Toyota Tundra 225, with sponsorship from Pit Boss Grills and Toyota.

However, the inaugural race weekend encountered challenges due to adverse weather conditions, with the Truck race experiencing wet conditions on Saturday, while the Xfinity event later in the day witnessed drier conditions. Despite efforts, the Cup race the following day, clinched by Chase Elliott, was abbreviated due to worsening weather conditions, resulting in low driver visibility.

News emerged on September 15 that NASCAR would return to COTA for the 2022 season, as Speedway Motorsports, the race promoter, secured a contract renewal. The race unfolded as scheduled on March 27, 2022, with promoters announcing a week prior to the event that NASCAR would continue its presence in Austin, marking the third consecutive year of NASCAR’s visit to the city.