No thats actually the group in Austin who are making this a mess. NO marketing or effective PR. Sure the race might happen. They could be a bit more polished about the whole effort Id say.
The latest instalment (from: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96167 ) Austin circuit bosses insists track is still on course Austin Grand Prix officials says they are baffled by suggestions from Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that next year's race is in doubt - as they insist that preparations at the new track are well on course. Ecclestone informed team principals at the Indian Grand Prix that he had some concerns the Austin event may not happen, and he subsequently confirmed to reporters that there were issues within the promoting company. Speaking in Abu Dhabi this weekend, Ecclestone reiterated that Austin chiefs were facing an 'uphill struggle' and that he could not guarantee the race would take place. Steve Sexton, president of the Circuit of the Americas, responded on Saturday night to Ecclestone's comments. "Our funding is secured, and construction is on schedule, so we don't understand Mr Ecclestone's comments," Sexton said in a statement published by the Austin Statesman newspaper. "He has expressed great interest in the Austin race and in expanding the F1 brand into the United States." However, Tavo Hellmund, whose Full Throttle Productions company won the right to stage the United States Grand Prix, warned that the track must ensure it gets things sorted before Ecclestone loses total faith in the project. "Mr Ecclestone has been incredibly patient with the challenges here in Austin," he said. "Full Throttle Productions has worked tirelessly to bring the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix to Austin. "It is now the responsibility of the Circuit of the Americas to make this project happen before Mr Ecclestone's patience runs out."
Interesting. The way I read that,... Tavo is supporting BE, and throwing COTA under the bus. Tavo has be invisible for months. Seems likely Tavo now is just trying to sell the rights to the GP to COTA... The good news for Austin is that this implies someone is at least interested in getting the rights.
I wouldn't be suprised if all the publicity is trying to get COTA to reach an agreement quickly. seeing as how the first date they can reapply for the money from the state is next week...
There's a difference between a realist and a debbie downer. This thread is mostly cheerleaders and debbie downers.
OK gentlemen, in regards to the USGP in austin, what is the difference between a realist and a debbie downer?
And just to know where you each stand,... how likely do you think it is that the USGP in Austin occurs in 2012? Pick a number between 0% - 100%. FWIW, since starting this thread, I've always been about 70-80% (against)... And IMO that makes me both a realist and a Debbie Downer.
same as the difference between a realist and a cheerleader 100% going to happen. what i don't get is how you can maintain the same likelihood of not happening, over a year later.
Easy... some progress, but not much. Texas Tax payers offer up $25M,... Ecclestone says he wouldn't put money on it happening. The fact that you insist that it is 100% when Ecclestone says it is not,... nothing else needs to be said.
If Ecclestone really thought it wasn't going to happen, he'd keep quiet, until he gets his fee. And, you saw the pics someone posted from India 13 months out, more work to be done than austin has...
Interesting Blog... http://www.formula1blog.com/2011/11/13/austin-gp-in-danger-words-begin-to-fester/
Completely disagree,... since it's US (Texas) taxpayers footing the bill, the teams would never allow him / F1 to keep the money, just for the bad PR. I'd call it a wash,... but India pulled it off. That's why I'm not at 0%. Now let me ask you this,... do you think India has the same level of building permitting, regulation, inspection required in the US?
I think you'll loose that argument: India is one of the most bureaucracy burdened govt in the world. I'm sure it is a LOT harder to get any permit for any kind of construction there. But all this back and forth is academic: Bernie doesn't see it happening. That's really all I need to hear from anybody. I'll check back with you guys next fall unless Bernie tells me something new.
He'll be a fool, if he doesn't take the sanctioning fee money, to hold the race in 2012. Just conjecture here, but if the contract for the race is with Tavo instead of COTA, wouldn't he be responsible for the paying the default penalties on the contract?
Texas will get is money back in a default. Not from Bernie, from COTA. The permits are in place. That six months of not doing much work at all, was getting the floodplain remappings signed off on by FEMA. As for building permits. It's not in city limits, at the moment. They actually put off annexing it until later (not familiar with this process, but I assumed it had something to do with permitting)
That's right, he's no fool. The teams gave him guff about the travel required of them at the end of next year and he got an opportunity to take the race where he really wanted it and where it can be coupled with Montreal, so now he's trying to pull the rug out from under Austin. Bernies no fool; Bernie comes first, second and third with Bernie.
Don't blame this desaster on Bernie. He did nothing to cause this situation. Just as with USGP, these are self inflicted gun shot wounds. Bernie just calls it as it is. Your argument about the travel deal is flawed: It would have been coupled with other fly away races. Besides: Bernie organizes that travel and controls those costs anyhow. The team don't want to do more than 20 races, so something has to give. But with Bahrain and Korea on the calendar, there is still enough fluff to resolve that issue without touching on Austin.
If they interprit the law like that, they wouldn't be eligible for receiving money in 2012 as well... which, if they do decide that, they could apply for the monies throught events trust fund, instead of the METF
On the interpretation, I used the actual language "any year" from the law. I take that to mean "a calendar year". Otherwise it should say "any 12 month period". So 2012 fits the interpretation, but not 2013. That's the way the lawyer that filed the lawsuit is calling it. True they could apply to the SE trust fund, but then they wouldn't get the $25 million until after the event. Only the METF allows for the up front funding. I don't think Bernie would go for that.
rofl. Building anything in India is a nightmare. Endless cheap labor but the the government is a nightmare.
