COTA wants to change F1 support programme: ‘MotoGP or racing with celebrities’

The support program for the US Grand Prix in Austin should get even more interesting in the future. After the cancellation of the W series, there are only two historic championships present this weekend besides Formula 1 itself. Circuit of the Americas president Bobby Epstein hopes to make the opening more fun for the crowd.

Last year there were 400,000 visitors at the Formula 1 weekend at the Texas Circuit and this year 440,000 fans are expected at trackside. This could soon increase to half a million people, but after that Circuit of the Americas will have to take steps to make the supporting act more fun. The W series didn’t come to the US due to financial problems so now there are only Masters Endurance Legends and Masters Historic races in addition to F1.

Creative thinking

Epstein explained his ideas to racer: “Two or three support championships would be fine. It would be great actually and if it’s not F2 or F3 then we have to think creatively. I’d really like to see motos over the Formula 1 weekend. I think it will be a lot of fun and the fans will love it Also, so we’re looking at that now.” Epstein even suggested racing with taxis from different American cities: “We have to entertain the public anyway, but I don’t want to exclude the pure racing fan. We have to find the right product on the track that will satisfy the crowd. There I thought I was disappointed because the W Series She didn’t come here, but there was so short notice that we couldn’t arrange a replacement.”

MotoGP or celebrity racing

“It doesn’t have to be MotoGP by itself, it can be something else with motorcycles. Just different types of racing,” Epstein continued. “If you look at the past, F1 has some great celebrity races. That’s something we need to think about. It can be really fun. I think F1 attracts a lot of celebrities and something like that hasn’t been done for a while. It’s definitely stuff.” Well worth discussing. If Formula 3 or Formula 2 can come out, that’s probably even better.”

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