New Jersey Grand Prix expected to be announced on Tuesday

2013 F1 calendar

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New Jersey 2013 F1 track plan

Formula 1 is poised to confirm a second race in the USA.

The Wall Street Journal reports a press conference will be held on Tuesday is expected to announce plans for a race in New Jersey beginning in 2013.

This would be the second American round of the championship alongside the Austin Grand Prix, which will take place for the first time next year.

Provisional plans for a circuit were revealed in August:

If the project comes to fruition it will realise Bernie Ecclestone’s long-held plans for a race in the New York area.

F1 in New York

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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191 comments on “New Jersey Grand Prix expected to be announced on Tuesday”

  1. This is great news for F1 and New York.

    1. Except it’s New Jersey. New Yorkers will not be happy.

    2. Yes, it’s close but NJ is not NY. After losing NBA’s NJ Nets to Brooklyn, Jersey has a victory of their own :)

  2. Looking at Google street view, this will be a very interesting race – a lot of the roads around the above proposal are in a residential area. And it’s also going to have some pretty extreme elevation, possibly even greater than Eau Rouge. But the best thing is that it will be a proper street circuit – no acres of tarmac runoff!

    1. Although the proposed course does go past the West New York Sewage Treatment Plant …

      1. Excellent! I only hope that they don’t shroud it too much! :-)

        1. I suggest they name that particular corner the “Snooki Hairpin”. ;)

          1. Gads! I hope you’re not referring to that grim-sounding TV programme…. Horror of horrors, those non-entities who have even less talent than Mrs Button will be on the grid. Not sure I’m looking forward to it so much now….

            I personally think that it should be called “Anaerobic Digestion Hairpin”

          2. Gads! I hope you’re not referring to that grim-sounding TV programme

            Yes, I am. They should name the corner next to the sewage treatment plant the Snooki Haiprin because it’s the corner next to the sewage treatment plant.

          3. It has to be Pooh Corner.

    2. The elevation is fantastic! I ride my bike on most of that route just about every weekend. The views of the city are fantastic as well. This would be epic!

      1. Are hearing the buzz already or nothing has been said yet, localy of course?

  3. New York race would be phenomenal!!! Thanks Keith for being the first to break news on this potential announcement! Monaco, Singapore & New York would be my trifecta of street circuits to watch on location.

    1. Um, I hate to break it to you, but The Wall Street Journal (seven hours ago) and Autosport (four hours ago) both published this first …

      1. @RB7 check other sites first, broden your horizens just because Keith says something it does not mean he is the first to announce it, Auto week announced it (10 hours ago), even though it probably isn’t, it could be a malicious rumour.

        Keith, instead of just putting in about a new Lewis, I’m surprised you didn’t add that he had split from Nicole, and by the way the new Lewis quote was out days ago, hardly due for the round-up, maybe a round-up of last week.

        1. @formula-1 This isn’t Hello magazine, I don’t give a damn about the drivers’ love lives. There’s a thread on it in the forum.

          1. +1 I’m extremely happy Keith doesn’t waste time speculating about the driver’s private lives. it’s none of our business, frankly.

          2. That’s true, I see this place more like Heat magazine ;)

          3. I do think it might be interesting if was fact, as so many people believe it is factors in his personal life that have been affecting his driving, but I agree that conjecture is a waste of time in the round-up.

          4. “This isn’t Hello magazine, I don’t give a damn about the drivers’ love lives.” That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever read! +100

          5. I call **…anyone who chooses to live a life style such as being a Grand Prix Star is subject to the rigors of media attention and all that goes with it, good and bad. I am not saying that I agree with it although hearing the rumors about Hamilton does sort of make his attitude at Korea understandable.

          6. COTD from Keith there I think!!

          7. Indeed @keithcollantine, while it might well be that Hamilton did split up with his GF, its not the most interesting news that we would all want to see on here!

            I would like a good interview with Hamilton about what made it hard for him in the past couple of months, and if one appears in the coming weeks/months I am sure you will put that one online ;-)

          8. Ha ha Kieth. Sometimes I try to annoy you with my posts. But man, there is no need to anymore. Others are doing it.

            But yeah, you should have posted about the split with Nicole Sherzy! That is accurate reporting my son.

        2. Keith, instead of just putting in about a new Lewis, I’m surprised you didn’t add that he had split from Nicole, and by the way the new Lewis quote was out days ago, hardly due for the round-up, maybe a round-up of last week.

          It’s completely unverified, @formula-1 – it’s a story being reported by the tabloids (who have reported that they have split up on at least three other occasions), and the tabloids will run any story that they think will make money regarldess of the actual truth behind it.

        3. Fair enough about other media reporting it :-) Obviously we all read different sources – I do use CNN and Reuters as other news sources as well as Autosport, but didnt spot it there … still, gotta give Keith kudos – he isn’t exactly resourced like WSJ.

        4. OH NO! they broke up?? how sad! they were a perfect couple.

          To be honest, I prefer the round-up to have ScarbsF1 links…

        5. Won’t Nicole Scheizinger be coming to the race then? She could have watched from Hamilton Park.

        6. Your nick is Formula 1 but you seem not care much about it.

  4. The track does not really look that great though, consisting of one harpin, a few sharp corners but mainly long straights, even though it is good for America I can see it being a bit boaring.

    1. There is over 400 feet of elevation change. The harbour side portion is separated from the inland portion by a 400 foot tall cliff. Google street view the course and you will see why this will be spectacular if it comes through as proposed.

    2. So… kind of like Canada then?

      1. Crepe, I was really replying to “Formula 1″‘s post there: “it’s one hairpin, some sharp corners but mainly long straights.”

        1. @Mack41 I was juding on layout and the layout is not great, did I make a comment about elevation?

          1. They go hand in hand. I was wrong, the elevation is only 150-200, but this is still substantial for a street race. To judge a layout without taking into account elevation is silly. Have you seen Spa’s flat layout? Eau Rouge lacks any of the drama it presents in real life on a map of the layout.

  5. looks great but 2 races in a country that doesn’t really care about formula 1 doesn’t make sense.

    1. @stevie

      in a country that doesn’t really care about formula 1

      It’s true that, proportionally, interest in F1 in America is dwarfed by NASCAR and non-racing sports. But America is a vast country with a huge population, so even that proportionally small number is still a significant total number of fans. The second-largest group of users on F1 Fanatic by location are in America.

      And it’s obviously a massive economy and market for F1 to tap into as well.

      Generally I’m not in favour of one country having more than one race. But if an exception is going to be made anywhere, it makes sense to make it here.

      1. I think F1 should have more than 1 race in countries that are simply massive, i.e: Russia, America

        1. I think two races in Russia would be a mistake. Russia is unexplored territory for Formula 1; Vitaly Petrov and Marussia might be Russian and compete under racing licences issued in Russia, and while local motorsport has sprung up since the collapse of the Soviet Union (and far faster than in other countries that we go to, like South Korea and Bahrain), a Russian Grand Prix is still very new. We have no idea how the Russian community will take to it. Maybe there would be a second Russian Grand Prix in the future, but a lot of it would hinge on the success of the first race.

          1. I think the language barrier makes it impossible for those who don’t speak Russian to understand extent of motorsport following in Russia. It certainly can’t compete with the UK or the US in number of motorsport events held. However the fans are quite active. I’ve been watching Formula One since 1995 and I know people who watched it even before the collapse of the Soviet Union thanks to first cable TV providers. There are team fan clubs (Jordan-Force India even =) ) who have regular meeting for grand prix. Sport bars show each race and in major cities it’s not hard to find a place where to watch it with your mates. Online communities are numerous and very well developed.
            Of other motorsports, rallying is quite popular as you can expect. And Drifting grew to ridiculous number both in events and followers in 2000s.
            Motorsport existed to smaller extent in Soviet Union, in forms of factory backed teams, like Kamaz and Lada. It certainly didn’t spring with the collapse and it is still in it’s infancy. There was huge drop in interest and in number of events in 2002-2003. So many good racing series and events lost. Those were mainly backed by local authorities. Ex-Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov is a huge car enthusiast. Later in 2000s it started to develop, on a national level, as a private initiative. Vitaly Petrov’s manager is actually owner of Russian Touring Car Championship and touring car driver herself in the past.
            I very much expect people to pay ridiculous money to attend the first grand prix in Sochi and it will be definitely a sold-out.
            I’d say, if you are looking for similar fan communities it is comparable to the UAE.

        2. @svettel …and China, India, Brazil… I don’t think it would be good for F1. I don’t like the idea of smaller countries giving up their race for bigger countries to host several.

      2. Completely agree.

        Formula 1 doesn’t need the USA so to speak, but it’s far better off with a successful and secure presence in the States than it is without.

        Having two races may be against the spirit of the calendar, but if a country like Spain can get two Grands Prix why not the States? The USA have a strong Formula 1 heritage and, as Keith points out, there is a strong hardcore fan base already there. You could say ‘well why not have two races in Italy, Britain or Germany then?’ and you’d have a point, but the fact is no one is asking for a second race in those countries.

        If the US want two races and they have the means and the desire to do so, I say why not?

        1. Having two races may be against the spirit of the calendar, but if a country like Spain can get two Grands Prix why not the States?

          I’m a little bit bemused that people are outraged at the idea of America having two races, considering that they were the first country to have two races between 1976 and 1980, with the United States Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix West.

          1. Actually, the US was the first country to have THREE F1 races in a season. 1982: Long Beach, Detroit and Las Vegas.

          2. They’re not as bad as Spain, @bgbaum – they have four rounds of the MotoGP (Jerez, Barcelona, Aragon and Valencia).

        2. @magnificent-geoffrey I agree. I also think that a country as wide and diverse as the US is, it can justify holding 2 races. One of which being a street circuit is even better.

    2. It makes a lot of sense to Bernie and the FIA, so that they can attract the car manufacturers. For the manufacturers such as BMW, Honda, Toyota etc F1 is an advertising board, and if that board is not displayed in their biggest market, when the going gets tough they leave. And we get left with the 3 new teams.

      1. Agreed. It’s about exposure and as far as I’m concerned they should have GPs whever the moneynis – no money equals no GPs.

    3. no, what doesn’t make sense is the usa and france, and nearly uk and spa, not having any gp at all. korea, india, russia? puh-lease.

      the domination of nascar is past it’s peak:

      this year stopped 3 years of decline for nascar.

      this year’s 1st baltimore gp (indy) was a huge success, long beach remains as strong as ever, and even nascar’s road races are popular. road racing at all levels has been re-taking lost ground.

      the death of dan wheldon highlights the fact that these cookie-cutter ovals that have sprung up like mushrooms are good only for a high-speed demolition derby.

      the pendulum is swinging back towards those who turn left and right.

      1. I agree, and hopefully with the addition of Austin and Jersey, F1 can makeup some lost ground. It would help if SPEED had more extensive coverage pre and post race.

        1. proper f1 tv coverage in the us is way overdue. versus (nbc) is doing well so maybe they could put in a bid at some point. espn is as bad as speed.

          1. I may be wrong, but it seems Fox network has exclusive US tv rights to F1. Speed channel is owned by the Fox conglomerate. There are about 4 races each year broadcast on the normal Fox channel

            Even still, the F1 coverage is pitiful, especially when compared to Speed’s Nascar coverage(nearly 8 hrs of non-race programming during a race weekend).

            F1 gets 30 min pre-race show, and a crappy 1 hr roundup before live quali (even if its in the dead of night)

            Allow me to list some other similar auto coverage we have here in the US
            4 hrs of WRC on race weekend
            8 hrs of Monster Truck every week
            Every one of the 24hrs of Lemans
            10 hrs a day of Barrett Jackson auction
            4 hrs of Outlaws

            While I enjoy much of this coverage, (yes, even the monster trucks 1400hp, 7ft tires, 40ft in the air, whats not to love) I cant help ful feeling F1 gets short shrift.

  6. I’m quite surprised but excited about this news.

    Grands Prix aren’t simply just races, they’re events. Places like Silverstone, Monza and Monaco may not produce 5-star excitement races each and every year, but they are sacred to Formula 1 because they are such major events for all involved.

    Every time we see a new addition to the calendar, not only am I hoping that the circuit is able to produce good exciting racing but that the race is embraced by the locals and treated as a festival as much as it is a race. That’s what we’ve failed to get in Korea and what I’m fearing will be the case in India. Austin seems to have a better chance of being a really great addition to the calendar because there is clearly enthusiasm and excitement for what will come of F1 returning to the States.

    Hopefully, the Austin race will be a big success so that there is a wave of excitement that builds towards New Jersey. Having two good, exciting Grands Prix in the States would be a fantastic prospect for everyone involved in Formula 1. I never thought it would happen, but I’m quite excited by it so I hope the people of New Jersey/New York will be too.

    1. @magnificent-geoffrey

      Every time we see a new addition to the calendar, not only am I hoping that the circuit is able to produce good exciting racing but that the race is embraced by the locals and treated as a festival as much as it is a race. That’s what we’ve failed to get in Korea and what I’m fearing will be the case in India.

      I think the idea in the likes of South Korea and Turkey and Bahrain is to jump-start local motorsport. Formula 1 showcases the pinnacle of international competition, and the obvious intention is to show that to the locals and motivate them to build up their own domestic scene with a view to getting young drivers into the sport within a few years. The problem is that we don’t really know too much about how to actually do this; for now, the best we can do is build a circuit and hope the fans come. A lot hinges on promoting the event to crowds, which failed in Turkey (unfortunately; it’s a great circuit).

      Of all the new-er races on the calendar, China seems to be doing the best. It has helped that 2010 and 2011 had thrilling races, but Chinese fans are starting to come to the races in droves (reduced ticket prices help). And I think Chinese investment in the sport is inevitable. I also think India can duplicate this success; the race is getting a lot of media attention, and India already has a presence in Formula 1 through Force India, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. Someone posted a list of sponsors who have already signed up for the event yesterday, and it’s a pretty impressive list. And teams are already getting Indian investment; Sauber, for instance, have a deal with Amul, a dairy co-operative.

      New York doesn’t really have to worry about that. It’s New York. It doesn’t need a kick-start. Provided the race doesn’t clash with any other major sports events, I see no reason why it cannot be a success.

      1. Malaysia GP also help kick start motorsport in Malaysia. Several racing talent emerge such as Jazeman Jaafar, fahmi Ilyas, Fairuz Fauzy. Malaysian company involvement in F1 also getting larger. Several world class motorsport event was held in Malaysia such as Super GT, MotoGP, A1 GP. Malaysia endurance race also attract bigger name from Le Mans Series. Korea and India should seek advice from Japan or Malaysia or China on developing the motorsport in their country.

        1. China also have Ho-Pin Tung and Frankie Cheng, might see them in F1 someday, especially Ho-Pin who is one of many reserve drivers at Toleman-Benetton-Renault-Lotus-Renault.

  7. Ugh no thankyou. It’s a world championship for a reason, people are annoyed that Spain has two races as they were when Germany had two. Why is the USA any different?

    I realise that the USA is made up of 50 states of which could be countries in their own right, but they’re not. In my book it should be one race or none. This is preventing over countries from hosting, particularly European venues which are proven racetracks. I would rather Mexico or Argentina make a return than this.

    Drop Austin once people realise it’s an over funded white elephant and then perhaps look at holding a race in NY.

    1. I think it’s obvious why 2 races in the US makes more sense than in Spain. The race in Austin, and the race in New York, would each have completely different cultural appeals and atmospheres surrounding the Grands Prix there.

      Besides, although the US may not have a lot of F1 heritage, it’s a huge economical and cultural chunk of the world we can’t really ignore.

      1. Which country has held the second most F1 GPs? The US. That’s a heritage, I would suggest. Noticeably missing from the heritage are teams and, to a lesser extent, drivers.

        1. Indeed, those you mentioned are what I meant. Sure, there’s been GPs in America, but it’s not a country that exactly screams at you when you think of ‘F1’.

          1. Not sure about that, but if so, then nor is Korea, China, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, or India. Only a few countries have actual F1 teams operating in them, so we can’t really use that as a criterion. Unfortunately, the thing that screams at you when you think of F1 these days is cash.

      2. So many countries could argue different cultural appeal from one area to another. Russia a prime example, Australia, even Britain is has polar opposite cultures from one end to another.

        Culture is not a reason to have two GPs in the same country.

    2. @JamesF1 I would HATE it if F1 just stuck to 20th century European race tracks. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to spice things up a little a bit (and provide some ample competition for FOM to whack the prices up, of course). Besides, Paul Ricard is coming back soon.

      1. A US GP in New York is a return to tradition, one could vaguely argue. Watkins Glen being in New York state.

    3. Why is the USA any different?

      Because it’s one single country that is nearly the same size (geographically) as Europe, and a GDP just a smidge under that of all the EU states combined?

      I’d say those are some good reasons right there.

  8. Hm. Layout reminds me à bit of Valencia… and à bit of Abu Dahbi.

    Stunning background, but will this circuit be equally stunning?

    1. 400 feet of elevation change would argue “hell yes”

    2. But there is far more to it, look at the difference in height between the front and the back, that is pretty exiting.

  9. this shows f1 really is expanding its audience: It now caters to vapid celebrities in Monaco, container ship crews in Korea, venal businessmen in Singapore,brutal dictators in the middle east, white elephant property developers in Valencia and Austin, and now orange skinned, “duckfaced” alcopop drinkers in new Jersey.

    Really sustainable markets, unlike that useless Grand Prix in Silverstone or Spa.

    1. Aren’t there a lot of Italian Americans in New Jersey? Makes a lot of sense to have a GP there. They’ll all be Ferrari fans.

      1. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the new face of the tifosi.

          1. Luca, Stefano, Fernando and Felipe?

        1. Giuliano Carrieri
          23rd October 2011, 14:21

          LOL

  10. America has quite a good record for street circuits – better than Europe or Asia (Macau excepted) in my opinion – so I’m cautiously optimistic about this one.

    Having been along the Hudson it really would make a beautiful backdrop for the race, one to rival even Monaco. Singapore could be anywhere with its flashy lights (twilight race please!); Valencia is a building site by a beach. Whilst Monaco is a tour through some wonderful European architecture, it would be fitting to have a race with a 20th century American skyline as a backdrop. I remember watching the Toronto Indy with the iconic CN Tower in the backdrop, which as a former resident made it all the more special to me. It might not be in New York, but how nice for locals would it be to see New York in the background and think “wow, that’s us!”?

    1. Fully agree on that one @Icthyes, the Toronto IndyCar races were great, something like that next to New York would be really good.
      And the track offers some perspective for its covering some 130 m in elevation to make it something different from other tracks as well.

  11. Hmm, “over funded”, I bet BE and CVC just love seeing that phrase in connection to a racetrack.

  12. I’m ridiculously excited! A grand prix I can walk to is definitely something I can live with. :-D

    Now to get everyone else around here excited about it. For many people around here, motor racing = NASCAR = something they want nothing to do with, and few of them understand how different F1 is. I think a good first step would be a demo run…

  13. This is great news. I remember us discussing the merits of this course in the forums. Especially the hill climb and the hairpin. I’ll look forward to more detailed plans.

  14. I’m wondering what they’ll actually call the race (yes, I brought this up in the round-up, bu it’s more-relevant here). The Autosport article seems to imply the name will be the New Jersey Grand Prix, but I think that lacks punch. However, Jersey is known as “The Garden State”, so maybe the Garden State Grand Prix would be a good name. Likewise, Liberty State Grand Prix sounds good.

    One of the obvious suggestions for the race is reviving the United States Grand Prix East. This name never actually existed; the United States Grand Prix was traditionally the United States Grand Prix East. Still, I think it’s a little bland.

    Names like the New York Grand Prix or the Manhattan Grand Prix are much stronger, but since the race isn’t actually in New York City, the name isn’t appropriate.

    One of the big things we do here in Australia is the recognition of traditional land owners; if a race was held in my home district, it would be called the Dharawal Grand Prix. The New Jersey/New York area has traditionally been known as Lenapehoking, and the dialect is Algonquin, so I could see the race known as Lenapehoking Grand Prix or the Algonquin Grand Prix (though since I don’t really know what the stance on Native American land recogition is, this might be a controversial choice).

    But I think the name I like the most is the Atlantic Grand Prix. I see it as being like the old Pacific Grand Prix. “Atlantic Grand Prix” is a strong name, but neutral – it doesn’t really commit to any one state or county or people.

    1. I think USA East Grand Prix and Atlantic Grand Prix are most probable names but Abu Dhabi sets a precedent for Grand Prix being named after city as well. I hope we’ll see this race, it could mean a lot to F1 to get a strong foothold in USA. It would be great if locals would embrace the race the way it is embraced in Montreal for example.
      Of course, having a local in a fast car would always help…

      1. I think Abu Dhabi was named Abu Dhabi because “United Arab Emirates Grand Prix” didn’t work.

        1. @prisoner-monkeys I’ve wondered at times why they didn’t name the Abu Dhabi race as the Emirati Grand Prix.

          1. Because AbuDhabi wanted to claim it for itself (they are paying after all), same is with the Dubai MotoGP, its another one of the emirates in the UAE.

            The three emirates operate on their own in these things, they just have the same state, army and currency together for mutual benefits in that.

    2. Yes, but the San Marino Grand Prix was in Italy so I think calling it the New York Grand Prix is justified.

      1. I don’t think New Yorkers will like New Jersey being called “New York”. Likewise, I don’t think New Jersey-ites will like being referred to as New York.

        1. Most New York (city) sports teams play in New Jersey. So they’re used to it in that part of New Jersey.

          1. Still, a grand prix race is a huge event. New York and it’s authorities will not take it lightly if New Jersey receives all the benefits (being a separate state) by using New York’s publicity.

    3. Yeah I like the sound of the Atlantic Grand Prix. Atlantic GP by day, Atlantic City by night.

    4. Lindsay Lohan is my girlfriend (@lindsay-lohan-is-my-girlfriend)
      22nd October 2011, 19:20

      as the austin gp obviously is called Grand Prix Of The Americas, this woul make the new jersey one the United States Grand Prix

      1. @lindsay-lohan-is-my-girlfriend – the circuit in Austin is the Circuit of the Americas. The race itself will be called the United States Grand Prix.

    5. In the past, when there were 2 races in the US, they went with US-East and US-West. So I can easily these becoming – “United States – East Grand Prix” and “United States – West Grand Prix”.

      But logistically, I can see this becoming the United States Grand Prix as this is a privately-funded event. What does that have to do with anything? The race at Austin is (at least to some extent) publicly funded by the state of Texas, so they may actually prefer to be called the Texas Grand Prix. That state is bigger than NY AND NJ combined, anyway. Hehe.

      Oh, and I’m surprised no one has suggested, “The Weehawken Grand Prix”. Hahaha!

      1. @journeyer – that’s probably because “Weehawken Grand Prix” sounds like something we might have out in the boondocks, and not on the doorstep of New York.

  15. This is great! Uber simple track layout, and what I can imagine is a truly unique backdrop. Which makes a change. I wasn’t taking this too seriously but now it looks like it might actually happen.

    1. In addition, we can already identify names for certain corners…like Donnely, Bulls/Jacob, Old Glory. Let’s hope though that in each of the straights they don’t stick an ugly chicane.

  16. Oh god. No more street circuits, please…

    1. @huhhii – the beauty of this circuit is that there is pretty much no room for run-off. The barriers will be very close to the cars, and the circuit layout looks like it’s loaded with fast corners. Plus, there’s a massive elevation changes across the circuit. So it will be a proper street circuit; not despairingly flat with agonising sequences of slow bends and acres of run-off.

      1. Indeed. It looks more Montreal/Melbourne (with hills) than Valencia/Singapore.

      2. Montreal-like track would be more than welcome for sure. Hopefully an appearance of another new GP will lead to dropping Valencia.

  17. I’m going to pose one question:
    Which other track is going to be dropped for this?

    1. Well, Korea have said that they want to re-negotiate the terms of their contract because they think it is too expensive. Bernie might use that to justify dropping them.

      Of course, I reckon that the calendar could reasonably handle 25 races, so we might not lose any at all.

      1. “I reckon that the calendar could reasonably handle 25 races, so we might not lose any at all.”

        The families of the mechanics would beg to differ.

        I think 20 max, but I know we’ve had this debate many times. Dropping Bahrain wouldn’t be the worst thing.

        1. The families of the mechanics would beg to differ.

          Only a handful of team personnel actually go to every race, @john-h – a lot of the mechanics and pit crews are rotated out every few races. In a twenty-one race calendar, the mechanics could expect to do seven races at the most.

    2. Bahrain? Not sure how it will recover from the bad press it has received recently, even if Government sorts itself out.

      1. I could see one of the Spanish races going. Wasn’t Barcelona rumoured to be going?

        Failing that then maybe Hungary. With Russia coming onto the calendar that could fill the ‘Eastern European’ slot.

        Malaysia maybe?

        I could potentially see Bahrain being dropped should the current unrest continue.

        These are all total guesses though. I’ve honestly got no idea which races have contracts and which don’t.

        1. Yes, do away with Barcalona.

          1. @rammstein – you do realise that those races are under contract, right? You can’t just drop them because you feel like it.

          2. I thought they were ‘Bernie-contracts’ not actual real ones?

          3. @john-h – no, they’re legally-binding ones. Despite all the criticism that Bernie takes, he has never dropped a race mid-contract simply because someone made him a better offer.

    3. SennaNmbr1 (@)
      22nd October 2011, 12:57

      In terms of spectacle, China, Valencia or Korea. Far too many corners on the Korean track.

      In terms of circumstances, for want of a better word, Bahrain, Germany, Melbourne.

      1. I don’t think China will go. The circuit might be derided by the fans, but the 2010 and 2011 races were quite good, and the Chinese Grand Prix is starting to get a lot of spectators in the stands.

  18. Night race? Really? Surely an early morning race would be better, like 11am local time? Otherwise the European market would need to watch Monday Morning at like 1am?!?

    1. @dougy_d – that’s the old Liberty State Park proposal, which was rejected. The Weehawken bid is compeltely independent of the Liberty State submission.

    2. I think it would be cool if the race was on at around 9 or 10pm for Europe. Watching Canada at around that time was quite nice, it’s also nice to watch Moto GP’s US GP at 10pm.

      1. @slr That wouldn’t be as ‘cool’ for us Australians. A 6-7am Monday morning race would a pain-in-the-a***!

        I probably wouldn’t be able to watch it due to the timing of it.

        Here’s hoping for a early-mid afternoon slot. At least then it would be a ‘reasonable’ 2-3am timeslot..

  19. Meh, having been to the place in question i can tell you that no one cares about F1 and they will NOT be happy about having their city disrupted. I don’t see this happening.

    1. Absolutely no interest, whatsoever? I find that hard to believe!

      1. I’m amazed he can account for the twenty million people living in the Greater New York City Metropolitain Area. Twenty million people and not one of them interested in Formula 1?

        1. @Prisoner-monkeys Plus, you’d have to be pretty hard-nosed to not even take the slightest bit of interestif it’s in your back yard.

  20. Great news I say. While I’m generally against a country have more than 1 GP, I think that in a market as large as the US, an exception can be made.

    Two questions I’ve got, what direction would it go in and where would the pits be?

    I could see it going clockwise but it could just as easily go the reverse direction. As for the puts, I’m stumped..

    1. @mpj1994 – I’d say it would go along the Avenue at Port Imperial, which appears parallel to the Port Imperial Boulevard. If you look on the satellite photos, it appears to be a series of car parks. This is probably what the full circuit with pit lane would look like.

      1. @prisoner-monkeys if you zoom in on the ‘carparks’ you’ll see that they are in actual fact houses.. :P

        There is a section of carpark there but it measures just over 300m. Would this be long enough for a pit complex? The pit complex (from entry to exit in Melbourne is just short of 600m)

        1. I’m sure they’ll have thought of something.

  21. I am sorry, i really don´t wanna be a buzz-kill but, if I can guarantee you one thing about this “circuit” is that it is NEVER going to take place…at least not with this layout and most certainly not at this location…. There is no way the local council will tolerate the troubles this would cause.…shutting down any part of the Union City/Weehawken/West NY area for a whole weekend when this area serves as an important access point to Manhattan?… AND let´s not even mention the fact that this area is known for being stuffed with “green people” …I don´t know if there are folks here who are familiar with the West NY/Weehawken/UCity area but people here get their throat sliced for even mentioning NASCAR…just imagine what would happen to you if the words F1 Grand Prix would leave your mouth..
    The only suitable location I could think of for this Grand Prix (close to this location) would be in Liberty State Park, perhaps parts of Ellis Island…. It´s still part of the NYC area, roughly 10 kms south of Weehawken driving through Palisade Ave, with Atlantic City not far away, and considerable cheaper than NYC….. it would provide the least impact to city functions and the noise disturbance would be also limited ..there is enough space to accommodate viewing facilities, with the potential to hold a large audience..also the possibilities for the layout of the track would be endless here…we also have plenty of options to place the pits, run-off zones, media center, team facilities, and of course the paddock area)-Ps: where the hell would they place all this in Weehawken..
    BUT I would really love to have a GP in this area….but during the summer break, where I am actually home and not across the Atlantic

    1. There is no way the local council will tolerate the troubles this would cause

      And yet, all the reports claim that the event has the full support of local councils.

      shutting down any part of the Union City/Weehawken/West NY area for a whole weekend when this area serves as an important access point to Manhattan?

      For the chance to host an international sporting event, beamed lived to millions worldwide? The terminal at Port Imperial could be used for direct access to the circuit.

      let´s not even mention the fact that this area is known for being stuffed with “green people”

      Formula 1 has recently been on a green bender, with the introduction of KERS and the 2014 engine formula mandating reduced emissions. Formula 1 is at the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly road car technology, which the local green population could actually find very attractive.

      The only suitable location I could think of for this Grand Prix (close to this location) would be in Liberty State Park, perhaps parts of Ellis Island

      They tried. The Friends of Liberty State Park found out about it and got the draft bid released under the Freedom of Information Act. They then used their clout to get the idea shot down, possibly because they hadn’t been consulted on the project (though I suspect the aspiring organisers wanted to put together a bid and then go to the Friends so that they had a solid idea in place).

    2. The only suitable location I could think of for this Grand Prix (close to this location) would be in Liberty State Park, perhaps parts of Ellis Island….

      If not New Jersey, how about Prospect Park?
      Almost like an Albert Park type circuit
      http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=52102

      Once a year F1 could work and it’s a short distance from Manhatten.

  22. Another processional street race to go with Valencia and Singapore, just what F1 needs. I do wonder what track Bernie will kick out of F1 for this, presumably one universally liked…

    1. Nice to see that you’ve already judged the race based on nothing more than a draft proposal, @mgriffin90

  23. Wow! New York City at night as the backdrop to an F1 race sounds pretty sweet. I know what my desktop wallpaper will be when they have this race.

  24. Yay. Another circuit. Everyone must be so happy.

    The F1 calendar can only support a maximum of 22 races a year (and even then, it’s a huge stretch), with Turkey going out, that leaves spot 20 open for Texas, then you’ve got France and New York in 2013, which circuit has it’s contract running out for 2014 so we can put Russia in?

    F1 has enough circuits, it’s bad enough Bernie’s probably using the in-season test at Mugello next year as a way of trying to put it on a future calendar. I don’t see how this ‘New York GP’ could ever work..

    1. I agree, I mean i love the prospect of this “Atlantic Grand Prix”, but at the same time if all these new GP’s are coming in over the next 3 years, some big heads are going to roll. At this point I am pretty happy with the calendar. It seems over the past decade, there has almost been a new race every year, and it obviously coincides with Bernies attempt at global expansion but I just find there is no tradition or excitement at the these newer venues

    2. which circuit has it’s contract running out for 2014 so we can put Russia in?

      Valencia.

  25. I live in NJ, this is VERY exciting news.

    1. My house is literally 30 minutes away. Can’t wait!

      1. Reckon you could get out there and film a lap of the proposed circuit in your car or on your bike?

      2. Would be great if you could do something like @zegga proposes @pino227, to show us what route it takes.

        Especially around those new developed houses/hotels below the railway station to see where the pitbuildings could be. And the runup over the railwaytrack and up through the park as well as going down to the other end of the track. Lucky you for living that close!

  26. excellent! (:D)

  27. Lucas Alexander Munro
    22nd October 2011, 16:56

    Terrible idea.. if this is becoming reality, I hope it is alternating with C.o.t.A, I mean, countries are absolutely lucky as hell to get one GP, so two Grands Prix in a country that isn’t even that keen on F1, it is just not ideal.

    1. I live on the other side of this country from these two GPs. This is a state that by itself represents the 7th largest economy on the planet. It has a huge population and well known car culture. Yet the nearest US GP will be two timezones and a 5 hour flight away. For comparison, imagine if the nearest GP to the UK was in Turkey. I suspect interest in F1 in western Europe would diminish.

      This geographical remoteness doesn’t grant California a ‘right’ to an F1 GP (if there were such a thing) but if Ferrari want to sell more cars here, they might be interested in the marketing potential of a west coast race in addition to those in the east.

      Luck in obtaining a race has little to do with it under Bernie, it’s all about the money.

      1. Actually, Montreal is only a 6 hour drive from New York City so you’re much closer to a GP than you state, even if its not in the US (but that shouldn’t matter).

        1. Nope, still a 5 to 6 hour flight to Montreal from here. Closest recent GP was in Indy. 4 hour flight, if you could find a direct one.

          1. Well, I’m not sure exactly where you live but the Austin GP will be on the West side and the Canadian GP in Montreal is on the East side. If there is a New Jersey GP, there will be two f1 races on the East side (within a 6 hour drive).

          2. In California, as I mentioned above. Texas is not on the west, last I checked! It’s on the Atlantic coast, so it’s well east of here. It’s the SE corner of the US, I’m in the west.

          3. I thought Florida was in the south-east corner of America, and that Texas was in the centre of the south, being neither east nor west.

          4. The map of the US you usually look at is distorted by Mercator projection, the width at the south looks less than it is. Austin is a looong way from me.

  28. Don’t worry, Mugello will never be there. The access road are so narrow…
    Regarding this track it appears absolutely original: two quick series of flowing sectors with an uphill (or downhill?) hairpin on one side and a typical city 90 degrees series at the other end. Absolutely interesting.
    Looks fast also, may be too much, since I don’t see much room for run off areas. Remembers me the old Montuich Spain track, a little bit…but just a little bit, because it appears really original.
    I would like a lot to see a race there. Much better than Valencia, Shangai, Bahrein and similar Tilkodromes.

  29. Ugh, I hope this is just a rumor which doesn’t come to fruition. So many things I don’t like about this proposal. 1. Another street circuit, really? 2. I don’t like the idea of two races in the same country 3. I don’t like the idea of two races in the USA 4. The race calender will be too long, 20 races should be the max 5. I don’t like the recent trend of opening new circuits in cash rich areas with low interest in F1 while closing down circuits like the Nurburgring

    1. @mjf1 – where have you heard that the Nurburgring will be closed down?

      1. Sorry, I didn’t mean that the Nurburgring would be closed down. What I meant was that it was constantly being mentioned during this year’s German GP that the race was not financially sustainable and could be the last one at Nurburgring.

        http://thef1times.com/news/display/03982

      2. and I meant the last f1 race

  30. I don’t understand the fascination with being able to see Manhattan… First of all it’s not that great of a site to look at, just a bunch of buildings, secondly with how close the cameras keep on the track all you’ll see is the cars, asphalt & advertising on the walls just like every other track. I mean seriously think of Singapore & Monaco those two tracks literally run through parts of those cities and yet you still barely see anything on camera other then the cars & advertising banners on the walls/fences.

    If they want to run in NJ then take the series to New Jersey Motorsports Park on the Thunderbolt track. 3.62km, 14 turns, natural elevation changes, 0.5mile front straight. And it’d be a fast track with the current lap record being held by a Formula Atlantic car at 1:10.211

    1. I like it!

  31. Part of me says “yay” over and over again because a race in NY is great and the fact we might have 2 races in America when just a few years ago the 05 disaster happened is terrific. However, I’m not quite sure if anywhere deserves two F1 races particularly when America doesn’t yet seem sold on F1 as it has Indy etc. not that I’m against F1 expanding quite the opposite but this has tried and failed before and two races means further to fall.

    I also firmly believe that instead of giving existing F1 host countries more races the calendar should be expanding. Ideally, I’d love somewhere like SA or Argentina even if that’s not likely to happen but I feel F1 should be making more groundwork to make this a proper world championship which it just isn’t at the moment.

    I know a lot of people are against races in say South Korea and Singapore etc. but I love them because it’s the chance to expand somewhere new and create a motorsport culture for that country. It is the future of F1 and I’ve felt for years now that the most underwhelming thing about F1 isn’t the lack of innovation these days but the calendar. I’m not Bernie’s biggest fan but I do admire his push to get F1 to new places even if it does seem to be to the richest nations but now it needs to be more balanced so while I’m personally delighted at this there is a twinge of wishful thinking that it couldn’t be somewhere new.

  32. wow, i’m pleasantly shocked

  33. Hey this would great to havea F1 race right in my back yard. well not really iam about 45 min out but i hope it dose happen that would be sweet..

  34. This seems like a sick place for gp. Just hope it will be a real challenge for seriously good racing.

    1. exactly my thoughts!

  35. Absolutely brilliant news. This could make for a pretty viable trip from the UK too I would think.

    This surely has to be the ultimate place for a street circuit?

  36. Sick… I’ll try and be in NY by the time the NJ GP comes around.

  37. OmarR-Pepper (@)
    23rd October 2011, 1:14

    that track looks so dull that it almost makes me miss that old Las Vegas track where they used to run in the car park

    1. Yeah, because 400 feet of elevation change just puts me to sleep.

    2. as @southpawracer writes, the elevation of the site makes it a bit more than “just another car park”, have a look at it.

      From the parking lots between the railway station and the ferry terminal there’s a way up to a bridge over the railwaytrack and further up hill before it reaches JFK avenue. Then its back downhill to the other end of the track again.

    3. cheer up @omarr-pepper, look at my comment above. This really does not have to be a bad track.

      1. @omarr-pepper @bascb Google Earth’s terrain feature is brilliant for showing just how much elevation change there is.
        http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j388/SouthPawRacer/tracks/NJcopy.jpg

  38. With the Singapore GP due for contract negotiations, do you think Bernie is using the New Jersey GP to put some pressure on the Singapore organisers to pay him more money?

    1. Singapore isn’t up for renegotiation. They’re on a seven-year contract.

      1. Singapore’s contract is for 5 years from 2008-2012, so they have to make a decision by 2012 whether to extend the contract.

        Should they decide not to extend, they will need to serve a notice of 2 years, eg, 2013 and 2014, hence making it a 7-year contract.

        However, they must start negotiations latest by next year 2012.

        1. Isn’t Suzuka up for contract renew as well 2012?

  39. By doing this Bernie will erase one of the GP from Europe I think.Or may be China is on the firing line.

    1. China should be pretty safe – Formula 1 is taking off there.

  40. This track sure looks a lot like Montreal.. hmmmm

  41. Now, where to slide this race into an already crowded calendar?

    After Montreal in the spring? I can’t see it being held before/after Austin because of the chilly possibilities of November.

    Also doesn’t this only continue to hurt Montreal sales? East Coasters like myself would certainly have a very easy time of arriving in New Jersey/New York in the spring. Many fellow Americans I spoke to at the track this year mentioned they’d rather visit Austin in 2012. Another race only 600km away would seem possible to continue to deteriorate Canadian ticket sales.

    1. I am pretty sure that is exactly the idea @eastman, to have this one paired with Montreal.

      But I would hope having more races in better time zones helps getting American interest up again and actually boost the sport.

    2. yup, its rumored that it would be held in June in back-to-back weekends with Montreal

    3. It does not bode well for the Canadian GP, as it could be a slot-in replacement for Montreal.

  42. Hopefully someone gets out there and films a lap of the proposed circuit soon.

    1. Well, this proposal is two months old. Things could well have changed in the time since. Especially to the bottom end of the circuit; the above proposal looks awkward. Something like this would be viable. And it would be a little shorter that the standard 5.5km length for new circuits, so the race would be 61 laps instead of 55. Or they could go for a longer, Spa-like length.

      1. Spa-lenght option is great, but it seems to me there is a quick stretch of, say, a couple of miles. Absolutely difficult to accept for a street track, for safety reasons (well…even if at Korea they run a 1 km straight between two concrete walls…)

        1. I doubt it would happen, but it would be fantastic if it did. And Formula 1 is safe enough to be able to handle a two-mile blast along an arterial road – the drivers are the best in the world at what they do, so how about we stop treating them like they need to be wrapped in cotton wool?

          1. Yes, and Schumacher should have retired for good by 2013 – that will make the driving a bit safer…

  43. Something interesting that I’ve noticed: there’s not really a lot of space for the pits. I first thought they’d go along the Avenue at Port Imperial, but the pit lne would end up being over a kilometre long. A lot of the suggestions that I’ve seen online have been along the lines of this, with the pits squeezed along the Ferry Boulevard at the south end of the circuit. Here the lane would only be four hundred metres long, but I don’t think that it would be an appropriate place for the start/finish line. The old US Grand Prix West at Long Beach used to have the start and finish lines separate for “safety reasons” (which I have never been able to determine), so that the race was run over eighty and a half laps. Could we perhaps see that here?

  44. Support Formula 1’s return to the US..

  45. OOT. RIP Marco Simoncelli

  46. Pauly D chicane, Snooki hairpin and “The Situation” straight, anyone?

    1. @dennis – no thanks. The only reason I suggested the “Snooki Hairpin” is because the corner is right next to the sewage treatment plant. Because that’s where “Jersey Shore” belongs: in the toilet.

      If (heaven forbid) the show is still on the air in 2013, there will no doubt be an episode where they try to go to the Grand Prix (because they think they’re important) where Snooki gets into a catfight with Nicole Scherzinger; Pauly D mistakes his team headphones for DJ headphone and starts playing with the team’s monitors, inadvertently sabotaging mark Webber’s race so that Vettel can win; The Situation hits on Jessica Michibata and ends up in hospital with “helmet-shaped bruises”; and JWoww tries to get more downforce added to her implants before Bernie Ecclestone chases everyone out with a shotgun.

      Which would actually make for some fairly compelling viewing.

      1. And I swear that everything I know about the cast’s personalities came from Wikipedia. We don’t actually get “Jersey Shore” here in Australia.

  47. To be honest I am surprised by this news, considering that the Austin Gp still has not been held yet. In these difficult economic times, of which America has been badly affected, would it not be prudent to see how successfull the Texas race is first before committing to another one in the same country?
    Some may scoff at this, I know Austin and New Jersey are thousands of miles away, but lets look at the facts. Race organisers in Korea have already come out in public to complain at the poor attendance figures for this year’s grand prix, at a circuit that only opened in 2010. The grands prix in Turkey was scrapped earlier this year due to huge losses, the Chinese grands prix has huge sections of grandstands shrouded by advertisement hoardings during race weekends, and struggles to attract the crowds.
    To be realistic, all of American motorsports is suffering from poor attendances in the main due to the poor economy. Many NASCAR races in recent years have adopted Shanghai’s tactic of hiding empty stands with advertisement hoardings. I could not help but notice that the Indycar finale at Las Vegas did not sell out, an event that sadly will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. So as I say, I am surprised.
    At the same time though, I am also excited. The thought of seeing F1 race cars competing, with the Hudson River and Lower Manhattan as a backdrop, certainly gets the juices flowing. I hope I am proved wrong, and the events in New Jersey and Austin become huge success stories. The fact remains though that it is not easy for these new circuits right now, and for some of the established ones, to survive.
    When you also take into account that Formula One in America gets very little mainstream coverage, you begin to realise just how big a gamble this is.

  48. I’m so late to read this, but I actually think this would work better than a race in Austin. America is the place for a street circuit and this looks like it could be amazing.

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