About Circuit of the Americas
The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a Grade 1 Motor Racing facility located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. It hosts the Formula One United States Grand Prix, NASCAR's Texas Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas. The circuit was the first in the United States to be purpose-built for Formula One.
Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track draws inspiration from iconic circuits around the world. The first sector features a steep uphill run into a blind Turn 1, followed by a flowing sequence of corners reminiscent of Silverstone's Maggotts-Becketts complex. The stadium section in the final sector mimics Hockenheim, providing excellent spectator views and technical challenges.
Since its debut in 2012, COTA has become a favorite for its elevation changes and overtaking opportunities. The wide track allows for multiple racing lines, encouraging wheel-to-wheel battles. The venue is also a major entertainment hub, hosting concerts and events, solidifying its status as a modern classic in American motorsport.
COTA is privately owned by Circuit of The Americas LLC, a company controlled by Texan entrepreneur Bobby Epstein of Marathon Structured Finance and the family of the late Red McCombs, the San Antonio car dealer and Minnesota Vikings founder who died in February 2023. Unlike almost every other Formula One venue on the calendar, no state or municipal funds contributed to its 400-million-dollar construction; the Texas Major Events Trust Fund does subsidise the annual race sanctioning fee, but only against measurable out-of-state visitor spending audited by the state comptroller. The site's original landowner, rancher Ellsworth Ledbetter, negotiated a rolling land-royalty clause paid on top of the original sale price that continues to generate roughly 240,000 dollars per year for his descendants until 2062.