Texas Revs Its Engine For Formula 1

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing fans, rejoice! November 16-18 marks the first Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the brand new Circuit of The Americas in Austin, the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the country designed for racing events of all forms, and a world-class destination for performance, education and business. Formula 1 has selected Austin to hold races from 2012 to 2021 because of the city's central location, easy accessibility for international fans, desirable climate and world-class music scene.

"Texas is already one of the top destinations for sports fans in the country, and the debut of Circuit of the Americas is a unique opportunity for the state to add to this wealth of offerings," Texas Tourism director Brad Smyth said.

Formula 1 is the highest level of auto racing sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body of world motorsports. Comparable to the Olympics and Soccer's FIFA World Cup, Formula 1 has a massive following of more than 520 million viewers in 187 countries. As the most-watched annual television sport in the world, Formula 1 will bring Texas to millions of viewers around the globe.

The FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ will attract as many as 300,000 people each race weekend, with an estimated 80 percent of attendees coming from outside Texas. In addition to elevating Texas as a world-class destination for sports enthusiasts around the globe, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix weekend at Circuit of the Americas is estimated to have an economic impact of approximately $400-500 million.

The Circuit of The Americas' boasts a one of a kind, 3.4-mile track with capacity for 120,000 fans and an elevation change of 133 feet. Circuit of The Americas is situated on a 1,000-acre site in southeast Austin, approximately two miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with scenic views of downtown.

Keeping with Austin's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World, some of the biggest names in music will soon be entertaining fans at Circuit of The Americas. Once completed in 2013, the Tower Amphitheater will be the largest permanent stage in Austin, with a capacity of 15,000 people, and will host major concerts and national touring events through a partnership with Live Nation.

The Circuit of the Americas complex will also include a conference center, banquet hall and state-of-the-art medical facility. Future proposed features include a driving/riding experience, a motorsports driving club, kart track, grand plaza event center and tower, and a trackside recreational vehicle park.

For more information about travel experiences in Texas, please visit http://www.traveltex.com and find us on Twitter (@texastourism), Facebook and Pinterest.

About Tourism in Texas

Visitors to Texas enhance the state and local economies as evidenced by $63 billion in total travel spending in 2011 and more than 200 million domestic visitors last year. Travel and tourism directly supported 530,000 Texan jobs and generated $4 billion in local and state taxes in 2011.

SOURCE Texas Tourism