F1 to Race Circuit of the Americas in 2012

After months of speculation and a series of delays at the facility, sources close to Circuit of the Americas have confirmed that next year’s race in Austin will be confirmed on the 2012 F1 calendar at the December 7th meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in New Delhi.  A November 18th race has not been verified, but construction schedule delays at the circuit make in increasingly difficult for the previously announced date to advance in the season.

Much has been happening behind the scenes the past week with the recent deadline extension for COTA, with new details regarding leadership and sponsorship to be fleshed out in forthcoming statements.  Recent articles from Pitpass and Autoweek have been commenting on the upcoming announcement and new deal between COTA and Bernie Ecclestone, with tougher terms likely having been negotiated by COTA recently.  Tavo Hellmund, who has been the public figure for much of the time at COTA has also been removed from the team’s webpage.

For American fans of Formula 1, the return of the sport in 2012 to Austin will mark the first race on US soil in over half a decade.