By Chris Medland August 12, 2022 11:55 AM
By Chris Medland |
Circuit of the Americas is comfortable with Las Vegas being scheduled close to it on the 2023 Formula 1 calendar as the sport looks to group more races by region.
F1 is trying to make its schedule more efficient from an environmental and logistical perspective due to the amount of freight being flown around the world for each race. However, promoters tend to want events to be spaced out to ensure high demand in their region, but COTA chairman Bobby Epstein says he thinks Vegas and Austin are different enough for both to succeed even with relatively close dates.
“I think the two events are so unique, each pretty exciting in their own way, and I think there’s enough fans to go around,” Epstein told RACER. “So I think they will both flourish – one doesn’t have to succeed at the expense of the other.
“I appreciate they’re not back-to-back, one week apart. One, because I want to go to the other race! But I really like with the way they’ve routed it. Staying in the Americas but going to Mexico and maybe even Brazil as well between us and Vegas makes a lot of sense both from a logistics standpoint, environmental impact standpoint and for the sponsors and fans.
“It’s just better, and I think people realize there’s going to be a very big difference in the different events. A night race in Vegas is going to be an incredible, unique scene, and a weekend festival at COTA offers a lot of value for the buyer.
“It’s just a full week of entertainment both for the racing fan who will have the W Series among three support races, and the uniqueness of the circuit that is purpose-built for F1. And on top of it you’ve got the concerts and the villages to wander around. It’s just the United States Grand Prix, it’s just uniquely different.”
Epstein says there hasn’t been any noticeable impact – positive or negative – from the addition of Miami to this year’s calendar, with Austin selling out its first offerings even before that race took place.
“I think Miami being where it is in May is a great calendar, it complements us,” he said. “Just like Montreal. It’s great to see F1 having a presence in the U.S. more than once a year.”
COTA, Las Vegas GP, Formula 1
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, he contributes to BBC 5Live and Sky Sports in the UK as well as working with titles in Japan and the Middle East.
Check out a quick recap of MX-5 Cup round 9 at Road America
Second-place constructors’ battle irrelevant – Wolff
Vasseur explains reluctance to back Andretti F1 entry
INTERVIEW: Life is never dull for Guenther Steiner
August 13, 2022 11:24 PM ET ·
The first truck off pit road controlled the race. That was the story of Chandler Smith’s dominating victory in Saturday night’s (…)
August 13, 2022 8:29 PM ET ·
Bob Tasca III powered to the No. 1 qualifying spot for the second straight race on Saturday at Heartland Motorsports Park, securing the (…)
August 13, 2022 8:14 PM ET ·
Kyle Larson broke the 117-mph barrier in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Saturday night to score the pole at Richmond Raceway. One of the last (…)
August 13, 2022 7:07 PM ET ·
Kyle Busch appeared to be waiting for an opportunity. Seated at the stage for his weekly media availability at Richmond Raceway, the (…)
August 13, 2022 6:18 PM ET ·
Ross Chastain was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice Saturday evening at Richmond Raceway. Chastain paced the uneventful session, (…)
August 13, 2022 3:57 PM ET ·
There might be plenty of laps still to run, but Daniel Suarez has already accomplished quite a few personal firsts this season with his (…)
August 13, 2022 2:26 PM ET ·
Bubba Wallace isn’t unfamiliar with running near the front in the NASCAR Cup Series, but he’s been doing much more of it recently. As (…)
August 13, 2022 8:59 AM ET ·
Mitch Evans delivered under pressure to keep his title chances alive and slice into Stoffel Vandoorne’s points advantage as the New (…)
August 12, 2022 10:57 PM ET ·
Top Fuel standout Mike Salinas closed out Friday at Heartland Motorsports Park with the top run of the night, racing to the (…)
August 12, 2022 7:58 PM ET ·
One of the world’s largest collections of Indy cars is being presented for auction by RM Sotheby’s. The immaculate lot of (…)
Check out a quick recap of MX-5 Cup round 9 at Road America
McNulty joins Skip Barber TC America team
August 12, 2022
OPINION: IMSA leading ‘car fans first’ agenda
August 12, 2022
COTA not worried about timing of F1’s Las Vegas race
August 12, 2022
Inside the SCCA, with Dion von Moltke
August 12, 2022
Wallace signs multi-year contract extension with 23XI Racing
August 12, 2022
All contents copyright © 2022, Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc., 17030 Red Hill Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614, 949.417.6700 Partner of USA Today Sports Digital Properties
Powered by WordPress VIP
