New Jersey state governor Chris Christie announced on October 25, 2011 that the state will host the Formula One Grand Prix of America race in 2013. The New Jersey Palisades along the Hudson River will house a 3.2 mile street circuit layout at Port Imperial, a ferry terminal just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
Second U.S. Formula One Race
Formula One last raced in the United States in 2007 with Lewis Hamilton winning the U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the final of eight years of the race at the home of the Indy 500.
Formula One, however, will return to the U.S. in 2012 with the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. And New Jersey will join the F1 calendar for 2013 – on a 10-year contract just like the Austin race.
The race is planned to run on existing roads through Port Imperial and at the top of the Palisades in Weehawken and West New York. It is being compared to the track in Spa, Belgium with the feel of Monaco. The circuit will be engineered by Hermann Tilke’s architectural firm, the world leader in building F1 tracks.
Organizers hope up to 100,000 people will come for practice, qualifying and the race.
“This is the second miracle on the Hudson,” West New York Mayor Felix Roque told the Metro World News, referring to the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the river in January 2009.
New Jersey Date Uncertain
There has not been a date set for the race in June 2013. But it will likely be in line with the Canadian Grand Prix, with which it is expected to be paired. The 2012 Canadian Grand Prix will be held on June 10.
The 2012 F1 schedule has 20 races at the moment, going from the opener in Australia on March 18 to the finale on November 25 in Brazil. It’s unclear if New Jersey will be a simple addition to the 2013 schedule or whether another race will be dropped.
Sochi Into Formula One in 2014, or 2015?
Formula One appears ready to enter Russia in 2014 as the Russian government on October 26, 2011 approved 5,846 billion roubles (195.5 million dollars) to build a motor racing circuit in Sochi – the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone last year signed a seven-year deal with the Sochi regional governor to stage a Russian Grand Prix from 2014 to 2020.
The track in the Black Sea resort will be integrated into the coastal Olympic Park. Most of the building is expected to be completed before the Games but the tarmac racing surface cannot be laid until after April 2014, according to a report by RIA Novosti.
The opening race in 2014 could be delayed one year if it hinders preparations for the 2014 Winter Games. But Russian officials are optimistic it will be completed in time.
The heads of Formula One are clearly conitnuing their search of new markets and new audiences for the sport.
David Hein - David Hein is a professional freelance journalist, focusing mainly on Sports, especially international basketball, European soccer and ...
