New York F1 track plans revealed – Jersey City bids for 2012 night race
The plans for a New York Grand Prix have appeared online after an environmental pressure group criticised the project.
A 5.79km (3.6-mile) circuit in Liberty State Park has been designed and the organisers are hoping to emulate Singapore by holding the Grand Prix at night.
See the 2012 New York City Grand Prix plans in full below.
Update: The mayor of Jersey City says he doesn’t support the plan. More below.
The proposal says:
With the incredible backdrop of the New York City skyline, selecting Jersey City for the 2012 Grand Prix Auto Race Circuit will not only boost ticket sales as the Grand Prix returns to the United States, but will providing striking television footage. To maximize the dramatic effect, Jersey City could possibly follow in Singapore’s footsteps by holding the finals at night.
Pictured below is a generic circular circuit through Liberty State Park, which covers a distance of 3.6 miles, the area would provide the least impact to city functions, and the greatest possible space to accommodate ticket holders. As the park has 1,212 acres, with a significant portion dedicated open space, amble viewing facilities can be erected, with the potential to hold the largest spectator audience on record.
There are multiple ways to carve out the interior to make the course challenging with tight turns, great straights, plenty of options to place the pit, run off zones, team facilities, media center, and of course the paddock area.
However the planned space for the track to be built in looks distinctly cramped. Where is the room for the pit and paddock in their diagram?
New York F1 track proposal - Jersey City (click to enlarge)
The organisers point out this is just a preliminary idea for a circuit. Here’s the area they’re planning to build in:
The organisers also expect Formula One Management to do a lot of the work including:
Planning, developing, logistics, marketing, and all necessary preparations to effectively carry out
the event.
Structures for media center, paddock and VIP areas, temporary meeting rooms, security control
tower, pit areas, team facilities, clubs, visitor welcome center, hospitality tent, and all other
necessary structures.
Providing ample portable facilities for visitors.
Obtaining all the necessary permits and licenses required to hold the event.
All equipment needed to stage the race as well as staffing.
It would be unusual for FOM to get so deeply involved with creating and running a race. But after 40 years of trying to get a race in New York perhaps Bernie Ecclestone is prepared to give a little more to get what he wants. On the other hand, it may just be a very optimistic plan.
Friends of Liberty State Park have criticised the plans, saying:
Whomever has proposed it to Formula I has no clue about the true purposes of LSP or about the park’s history of battles to protect public access. LSP is not a city property to rent out for the weekend and take away from public users who need it more than ever for the quality of their lives. LSP is a park for the people and is not a commercial venue. It’s arrogant for anyone to consider this use for our green haven.
Do you think the proposal is realistic? Read the plan in full here: Proposal for Jersey City Grand Prix (PDF)
Update: The plan could be dead already – the mayor of Jersey City says he doesn’t support it.
Read more: Ecclestone still chasing New York dream
SciF1Droid said on 5th May 2010, 15:27
Quote from nj.com – “Pesin noted that state and federal grants are funding a $32 million ecological restoration project at the park, which includes creating a 40-acre salt marsh, over 100 acres of forest and a network of nature trails.”
If that truely is the case, why racing at the park was even up for consideration is beyond me. I’m not surprised this didn’t happen, it had that inevitable feel about it.
BasCB said on 6th May 2010, 6:28
I think it is a missed opportunity for Jersey City to get some dynamics into the area as well as for F1 to have
1. a race in the USA, close to mayor Cities
2. show that it can be encorporated into an area being developed to have nature in an urban area (the “history” they talk about is app. 10-15 years after changing it from a dump).
FOM shoul have taken them to visit Melbourne to see, what the park is now and what it looked like before the GP went there.
BasCB said on 6th May 2010, 6:35
Or let them have a look at Montreal. A park surrounds the cite of the track and it is great for everybody.
ajokay said on 5th May 2010, 15:56
Let out the reins a little and just go to Laguna Seca already, sheesh!
JB said on 5th May 2010, 16:07
thats look great! i think build a formula 1 circuit and preserve the site are both very possible.
BasCB said on 6th May 2010, 6:29
Think so as well, F1 needs only a track and pits buildings (can double as sports/entertainment etc. facilities) and runs for 1 week a year.
Chaz said on 5th May 2010, 16:09
I’m really in two minds about this…
C.f said on 5th May 2010, 19:44
LOL – I just thought about it…. the track just follows along the road 70% of the time with a few ovals going in and out from time to time XD
zomtec said on 5th May 2010, 19:58
It´s a pitty that the plan is dead, as they put so much energy and time into this project.
dsob said on 6th May 2010, 16:10
Alright, it’s solved. The new route for the NYC race is across Verrazano Narrows Bridge onto the expressways of western Long Island. Coney Island Park should do a booming business. Then north to Throggs Neck Bridge-boy, some high speeds should be done there!- and on across to turn west on the William Flynn Expressway. Should be a wild sound, 24 F1 cars roaring through the section of the Wm Flynn that is surrounded by those high cement walls just north of Columbia University that runs up to the George Washington Bridge. Across the GW and on down Garden State Expressway and back to the Verrazano Bridge by some twisting ubiquitous route.
Oh, wait, that will never work. By the time you create the runoff FiA demands these days, you’d have to tear down Columbia University for the Wm Flynn section.
Ah, well.
(Tongue firmly in check, yes. But my, what a fun course it would be.)
f1_nut said on 6th May 2010, 22:03
It would have great.
Too bad it was turned down.
Sameer Cader said on 26th November 2010, 10:05
if they start at 8pm america its 2am here in sri lanka
Kendall Njie said on 11th December 2010, 3:27
Though I’d throw in a link that readers here might find meaningful.
thomas said on 22nd March 2011, 22:38
sorry this question might have been asked already or answered , but what would happen to austin ?, would this new york be instead of austin ?
unless the usa has 2 grand prixs whould canada loss theres to have 2 in one country ??