I’ve been a fan of F1 racing for many years and attended Grand Prixs in Phoenix, Italy, France and the UK. And I’m talking real GP racing- not local Indy Car street races or local weathermen racing go karts around a parking lot.
2016 marks the fifth year for Formula 1® at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and the triumphant return of real Grand Prix racing to the United States. I look forward to someday attending the USGP in Austin since it’s only an 8-hour drive away.
But what’s so great about F1 at COTA? Here’s my personal list of top ten great things about the US Grand Prix in Austin:
- 10: The track is a 3.427-mile road course with 20 turns and numerous elevation changes.
- 9: The circuit is a favorite amongst the drivers.
- 8: The circuit is a favorite amongst the spectators.
- 7: Turn 1 climbs up a 130-foot tall hill.
- 6: There is a 251-foot Observation Tower open to the public during the USGP.
- 5: Friends of mine attend the race (see photo below).
- 4: No need to convert timezone from UTC.
- 3: American Stig can sleep under that bridge in Austin.
- 2: A Ferrari holds the lap record.*
- 1: And someday, eventually, I may actually be able to attend the race!
* Doh! A Ferrari held the lap record until Lewis Hamilton bested it with a 1:34.99 in qualifying on October 22, 2016.