© Getty ImagesFive Things You Didn’t Know About COTALesser-known facts about the home of the United States Grand Prix.
ThisweekendheadtotheUnitedStatesforthesecondtimethisyearandwecan’twaittobebackattheUSA’sfirstpurpose-builtFormulaOnetrack.That’sonefactthatyouprobablyknewalready,butherearefivemoreyoumightnotknowabouttheCircuitOfTheAmericas.
ItCherry-PickedTheBestCornersFromAroundTheWorld
The original layout was first devised by promoter Tavo Hellmund and the 1993 Motorcycle World Championship Champion Kevin Schwantz. They also called in Hermann Tilke to assist.
The design has picked some of the best sections from historic tracks across Europe. Part of the circuit is very similar to Silverstone's much-loved Maggotts–Becketts–Chapel sequence. It also resembles Hockenheim's arena bends, and finally, another turn is a dead ringer of Istanbul's turn eight. Other turns have been loosely inspired by the Senna 'S' at Interlagos and the Österreichring's Sebring-Auspuff Kurve.
A Sneaky Dou-Bull© Getty Images
TheTrackHasMovedSinceBeingBuilt
The track took four months to lay when COTA was first built, but as it’s on a soft clay-like soil, it has moved over the years as it has settled.
This has caused the track to become bumpy over the years. After complaints from drivers and in particular MotoGP riders that the track was becoming unsafe, the owners chose to repair and resurface the track in 2019.
Racing (Stars And) Stripes© Getty Images
After the work, the FIA World Endurance Championship was the first series to return to the track and while some believed there had been improvements, but others who felt many of the issues still remained and the repaving had brought new concerns, with the differing grip levels of the new and old asphalt.
COTA has since hired consultants to review asphalt designs and diagnose the parts of the track in need of resurfacing. Ground penetration radar and laser mapping equipment were used to map the track and identify the different repairs needed. COTA has repaved turns 12 to 16 and reinforced turns two and 10. They have also made sure the new asphalt and concrete foundations were even and flush.
Making Memories At COTA© Getty Images
Turn One at COTA is called ‘Big Red’ named after Texas business Red McCombs who was one of the largest investors in the creator of COTA. And it’s one of the most exciting corners in Formula One. From the start/finish straight the track rises 133ft before turning into a blind, tight, first-gear, left-handed turn. It’s also a great overtaking spot.
Racing Up That Hill Into Turn One© Getty Images
In 2011, when the Circuit Of The Americas was just a building site, David Coulthard took the RB7 for a spin on the gravel and dirt. Check out his first lap in Texas👇
It’sthe10thLocationForTheUSGrandPrix
This weekend will be the 51st running of the United States Grand Prix and although COTA – which was purpose built for Formula One – has hosted it since 2012, it has had many homes before.
The first United States Grand Prix was held back in 1908 on public roads in Savannah, Georgia. It went to Milwaukee next, also on public roads, ahead of later moving to Santa Monica and San Francisco. The first purpose-built track to host the race was Riverside international Raceway in 1958, followed by Sebring in Florida in 1959 and Riverside again in 1960.
From 1961-1980 the United States Grand Prix was held at Watkins Glen in New York, before moving to the Phoenix Street Circuit for three years. After a brief hiatus, the US GP returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2000-2007 before landing at its current home at COTA in 2012.
Land Of The Raging Bull© Getty Images
