Forget Indianapolis, a new name has entered the frame to act as the future host of the possibly soon-to-be-revived US Grand Prix from 2012 onwards – and chances are, it’s one few F1 fans will even have heard of.
According to a number of reputable sources, the president of Monticello Motor Club (MMC) in upstate New York is in talks with F1 commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone regarding holding the race around the exclusive country club-style circuit at the foot of the Catskill Mountains – and for all that it has come out of the blue, it does make several degrees of sense.
With the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – which welcomed F1 from 2000 until 2007, including the farcical non-event of 2005 – having seemingly fallen out of favour, and Ecclestone making no secret of his desire to take the circus to New York, Monticello fits in by dint of being the nearest road course facility to the Big Apple at just an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Manhattan and ten minutes from an international airport.
In a letter written to members by MMC President Ari Strauss and leaked to AutoWeek, it has been revealed that he and MMC chairman Bill McMichael met with Formula One Management (FOM) chief executive Ecclestone earlier this year ‘and discussed the terms for an exclusive ten-year United States Grand Prix to be hosted at MMC’, whilst assuring that ‘if F1 comes to Monticello, our intent is to preserve MMC as, first and foremost, a private country club’. Yahoo! Eurosport
“A few months ago, [the MCC chairman] Bill McMichael and I met with Bernie Ecclestone, president/CEO of Formula One Management (FOM), and discussed the terms for an exclusive 10-year United States Grand Prix to be hosted at MMC,” Strauss wrote in the letter. “Shortly thereafter, Hermann Tilke, the chief engineer and circuit designer for Formula One, spent time at MMC and confirmed that our track and surrounding properties, with some expansion and minor track modifications, is an excellent location for a grand prix.
“Since receiving a letter of understanding from FOM confirming their hope to bring the US Grand Prix to Monticello, Bill and I have continued to secure the backing and support of local, state, and federal politicians and organisations.”
However, Strauss added there were no guarantees a deal would be reached. “Securing Formula One is like winning the Olympics – competition is fierce, and this is not a done deal. At this juncture, we are simply honoured that Formula One is considering our venue as the future, exclusive home for the US Grand Prix.” The Guardian
In order to be race ready for 2012, Tilke recommended that improvements would have to made to the grounds and the 4.1-mile circuit which is located in the Catskill mountains, about 75 minutes’ drive from downtown Manhattan.
“It’s a little bit early to say exactly how much it will cost but we will need to find approximately $150m,” added McMichael.
McMichael did not divulge what modifications would be needed to be made to the circuit, which is hopeful of a 10-year deal with F1.
The United States’s relationship with the sport has been intermittent.
Two years later, Indianapolis lost its right to host F1 and Ecclestone was quoted as saying: “It’s all the wrong crowd and the wrong people.”
“We would not run into a similar situation as Indianapolis,” said McMichael.
“There would be enormous interest from the European, Asian and South American fan bases here. And hosting near New York makes sense in terms or travel, availability of hotel rooms and entertainment options.”
McMichael added: “We will now continue to negotiate with F1 management until both sides have agreement. Then we pursue an event as quickly as possible.”
The F1 calendar will expand from 19 to 20 races in 2011, while three races, the Chinese, Japanese and Turkish, are not contracted for 2012. BBC Sport
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