F1: Austin Plans Submitted For FIA Homologation

Formula 1

F1: Austin Plans Submitted For FIA Homologation

Plans continue to move forward on the United States Grand Prix coming to Austin, Texas, in 2012...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted December 17, 2010 Balen (BEL)

FIA Senate President Nick Craw (Left), US Grand Prix promoter Tavo Hellmund (Center) and project director Peter Wahl (Right) look over a model of the US Grand Prix track coming to Austin, Texas. (Photo: Courtesy of Austin GP)

Preparations for the US Grand Prix have taken a step forward with the formal submission of plans to the FIA.

That signals the official start of the homologation process that all new tracks have to go through.

“We are excited to submit the track design to the FIA for homologation design approval,” said chairman Tavo Hellmund in a statement. “Our early submission is a true indicator of our ability to meet our slated opening in 2012. We look forward to approval and positive feedback from the FIA Circuit Commission which will meet in February to review our submission.”

While instant approval is not a formality, the fact that designer Hermann Tilke has done this many times before means that there are unlikely to be any major hold-ups.

Adam Cooper notched up his 26th season as a racing journalist in 2010. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter