Port Imperial Street Circuit
Encyclopedia
The Port Imperial Street Circuit is a proposed 3.2 miles (5.1 km) 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 . The circuit is based around Weehawken Port Imperial
and the Hudson Palisades, and includes roads in Weehawken
and West New York
.
, is run clockwise. The start line is planned to be located next to the NY Waterway
ferry terminal. The first sector of the circuit runs along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
, designed to allow the cars to race through Port Imperial before climbing the Hudson Palisades along Pershing Road. The circuit then follows Boulevard East
north to Donnelly Memorial Park. Turning right, it then descends Hillside Avenue to a hairpin turn
adjacent to the West New York sewage treatment plant and returns south to the ferry terminal via Port Imperial Boulevard. The elevation change from Port Imperial to the Palisades, some 150 feet (45 metres), would give the circuit one of the greatest elevation changes on the calendar.
According to event organisers, the circuit will be made up entirely using existing roads, removing the need to build any sections of circuit exclusively for the race, with the exception of the pit lane. Although the circuit passes residential areas, residents will not be cut off from their homes; the organisers plan to provide access to the seven affected residences. The organisers further plan to fund the race without any public money.
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...
, 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...
in the United States of America. It was officially announced in October 2011, and is planned to host the Grand Prix of America
Grand Prix of America
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...
, a race of the FIA Formula One World Championship
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...
, in . The circuit is based around 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...
and the Hudson Palisades, and includes roads 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:...
.
The circuit
The circuit, designed by well-known track designer Hermann TilkeHermann Tilke
Hermann Tilke is a German engineer and auto racer, who has designed numerous Formula One motor racing circuits.-Racing:...
, is run clockwise. The start line is planned to be located next to the NY Waterway
NY Waterway
NY Waterway, or New York Waterway, is a private transportation company running ferry and bus service in the Port of New York and New Jersey and in the Hudson Valley...
ferry terminal. The first sector of the circuit runs along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, also known as the Hudson River Walkway, is an ongoing and incomplete project located on Kill van Kull and the western shore of Upper New York Bay and the Hudson River, implemented as part of a New Jersey state-mandated master plan to connect the municipalities...
, designed to allow the cars to race through Port Imperial before climbing the Hudson Palisades along Pershing Road. The circuit then follows 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...
north to Donnelly Memorial Park. Turning right, it then descends Hillside Avenue to a hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
adjacent to the West New York sewage treatment plant and returns south to the ferry terminal via Port Imperial Boulevard. The elevation change from Port Imperial to the Palisades, some 150 feet (45 metres), would give the circuit one of the greatest elevation changes on the calendar.
According to event organisers, the circuit will be made up entirely using existing roads, removing the need to build any sections of circuit exclusively for the race, with the exception of the pit lane. Although the circuit passes residential areas, residents will not be cut off from their homes; the organisers plan to provide access to the seven affected residences. The organisers further plan to fund the race without any public money.