Grand Prix of America
Encyclopedia
The Grand Prix of America is a Formula One
World Championship race planned for June 2013 and beyond. The race will be held on a yet-to-be-constructed 3.2-mile street circuit
through the New Jersey
towns of West New York
and Weehawken
, along the Weehawken Port Imperial
. The circuit offers the New York City skyline as a panoramic backdrop.
was announced for the 1983 season, to be held either at the Meadowlands Sports Complex
, Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows, or Mitchel Field in Hempstead, Long Island (on the same site as the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cups). However the race was first postponed and then canceled as CART
started their own race at the Meadowlands
.
In May 2010 Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone
announced plans to bring a Formula One race to New York City for the 2012
season. Ecclestone was quoted as saying the race would take place across the Hudson River
in New Jersey
, with the Manhattan
skyline overlooking the circuit. Later that month, plans emerged for a circuit to be built in Jersey City's Liberty State Park
, but those plans were abandoned shortly thereafter. While searching for a venue for the race, Staten Island
, Floyd Bennett Field
and Meadowlands were all explored, but none were considered viable.
In August 2011, The Wall Street Journal
reported on a proposal for a street circuit in Weehawken
and West New York
, New Jersey, putting forward 2013 as a potential start date. Two months later, in October, The Wall Street Journal further reported that the race would be going ahead in June 2013. Other sources were much more cautionary, claiming that the race still needed approval from Hudson County
officials before the race could go ahead. Later that month, a revised proposal was put forward, tracing a street circuit that ran through Port Imperial
, climbing the Hudson Palisades to Boulevard East
before descending the Palisades to rejoin Port Imperial Boulevard. On 25 October, it was officially confirmed that New Jersey will host the Grand Prix of America from 2013 onwards on a 3.2-mile (5.2-km) street circuit.
The event is on a ten-year contract, starting in June 2013 so as not to clash with the November running of the United States Grand Prix
in Austin. It will be "paired" – held within one week of another event in the interests of cutting down on the costs of logistics – with the Canadian Grand Prix
in Montreal
.
Long-time NASCAR
promoter Humpy Wheeler is a consultant to the race, which is expected to provide over USD $100 million annually to the economy of the area.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship race planned for June 2013 and beyond. The race will be held on a yet-to-be-constructed 3.2-mile street circuit
Port Imperial Street Circuit
The Port Imperial Street Circuit is a proposed motor racing circuit in Hudson County, New Jersey in the United States of America. It was officially announced in October 2011, and is planned to host the Grand Prix of America, a race of the FIA Formula One World Championship, in...
through the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
towns of West New York
West New York, New Jersey
West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 49,708.-Geography:...
and Weehawken
Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
, along the Weehawken Port Imperial
Weehawken Port Imperial
Weehawken Port Imperial is an intermodal transit hub on the Weehawken, New Jersey waterfront of the Hudson River across from Midtown Manhattan served by New York Waterway ferries and buses, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, and NJT buses. The district lies under and at the foot of Pershing Road, a...
. The circuit offers the New York City skyline as a panoramic backdrop.
History
A Grand Prix in the New York metropolitan areaNew York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
was announced for the 1983 season, to be held either at the Meadowlands Sports Complex
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
, Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows, or Mitchel Field in Hempstead, Long Island (on the same site as the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cups). However the race was first postponed and then canceled as CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
started their own race at the Meadowlands
Meadowlands Grand Prix
The Meadowlands Grand Prix was a CART IndyCar race held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey from 1984 until 1991. The event was the first major auto race in the New York City metropolitan area since the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup, and came with high expectations, including...
.
In May 2010 Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
announced plans to bring a Formula One race to New York City for the 2012
2012 Formula One season
The 2012 Formula One season will be the 63rd FIA Formula One season. 2012 will be the penultimate year of the current 2.4 litre V8 engine configuration, before being replaced by more environmentally friendly 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines in 2014...
season. Ecclestone was quoted as saying the race would take place across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, with the Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
skyline overlooking the circuit. Later that month, plans emerged for a circuit to be built in Jersey City's Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park is located on Upper New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey, opposite the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The park opened in 1976 to coincide with bicentennial celebrations and is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.-Geography and...
, but those plans were abandoned shortly thereafter. While searching for a venue for the race, Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field is New York City's first municipal airport. While no longer used as an operational commercial, military or general aviation airfield, the New York Police Department still flies its helicopters from its heliport base there...
and Meadowlands were all explored, but none were considered viable.
In August 2011, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
reported on a proposal for a street circuit in Weehawken
Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
and West New York
West New York, New Jersey
West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 49,708.-Geography:...
, New Jersey, putting forward 2013 as a potential start date. Two months later, in October, The Wall Street Journal further reported that the race would be going ahead in June 2013. Other sources were much more cautionary, claiming that the race still needed approval from Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
officials before the race could go ahead. Later that month, a revised proposal was put forward, tracing a street circuit that ran through Port Imperial
Weehawken Port Imperial
Weehawken Port Imperial is an intermodal transit hub on the Weehawken, New Jersey waterfront of the Hudson River across from Midtown Manhattan served by New York Waterway ferries and buses, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, and NJT buses. The district lies under and at the foot of Pershing Road, a...
, climbing the Hudson Palisades to Boulevard East
Boulevard East
Boulevard East is a two-way, mostly two lane, scenic thoroughfare in the North Hudson, New Jersey municipalities of Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen. Apart from small sections at either end, the road runs along the crest of the Hudson Palisades, affording it views of the Hudson...
before descending the Palisades to rejoin Port Imperial Boulevard. On 25 October, it was officially confirmed that New Jersey will host the Grand Prix of America from 2013 onwards on a 3.2-mile (5.2-km) street circuit.
The event is on a ten-year contract, starting in June 2013 so as not to clash with the November running of the United States Grand Prix
United States Grand Prix
The United States Grand Prix is a motor race which has been run on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The race later became part of the Formula One World Championship. Over 41 editions, the race has been held at nine locations, most recently in 2007 at the...
in Austin. It will be "paired" – held within one week of another event in the interests of cutting down on the costs of logistics – with the Canadian Grand Prix
Canadian Grand Prix
The Canadian Grand Prix , abbreviated as gpc, is an annual auto race held in Canada starting in 1961. It has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967...
in Montreal
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
.
Long-time NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
promoter Humpy Wheeler is a consultant to the race, which is expected to provide over USD $100 million annually to the economy of the area.