COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[thearmofbarlow]

It's a sub 1% grade change for the racing surface itself. The braking zone can be uphill so as long as the front straight is flat up until the big left hander it should be usable.

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Something like that. It probably wouldn't add too much to the cost and the long term return would be worth it. That's just one more group of racers to attract.

[strad]

Looks like the "wall"
.
I wonder what the FIAs take would be on the heavily rubbered in section of the straight? Would the cars come flying around and suddenly look like they hit flypaper

[hairy_scotsman]

Lance Armstrong just tweeted this aerial photo of COTA. You can see the test area of paving around Turn 19.

[Pup]

Looks like they've poured three or four slabs behind the pit building. And the concrete work on the grandstand looks to be about 2/3 complete. They're also allowing parking on the finished lot, which means they've probably got the curbing in place. Looks like the track is ready for paving from T1 to the esses, and perhaps around the hairpin as well. They still haven't filled in around the second tunnel, though.

[hairy_scotsman]

Looks like they've poured three or four slabs behind the pit building. And the concrete work on the grandstand looks to be about 2/3 complete. They're also allowing parking on the finished lot, which means they've probably got the curbing in place. Looks like the track is ready for paving from T1 to the esses, and perhaps around the hairpin as well. They still haven't filled in around the second tunnel, though.

Curbs are in place in that completed section of parking lot. There are several big holes that have been made between turns 10 & 12. You can't see them in that aerial shot, but you can in some other photos I've taken & posted... Don't know if there are any in the esses. Can't see down there. The stadium section is still in the relatively early stages of work. Also, from at least 10 to 12, the top layers haven't yet been added to the track. It's still ~3+ feet below grade out there.

[WilliamsF1]

:lol: Looks like the "wall"
.
I wonder what the FIAs take would be on the heavily rubbered in section of the straight? Would the cars come flying around and suddenly look like they hit flypaper

They could always use a rubber cleaning unit from the nearby airport befor the fia comes to town




Talking about walls, there is absolutely no wall for a driver to hit. This will be a great drivers track but also looks like a very forgiving track.

Great tracks always had a wall near by for a driver to smack like;

Wall of the champions, montreal


Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

[thearmofbarlow]

Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

I suggest a pit of spikes that will open intermittently in the "arena" section.

[hairy_scotsman]

Talking about walls, there is absolutely no wall for a driver to hit. This will be a great drivers track but also looks like a very forgiving track.

Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

I just don't think the FIA will allow it.

[thearmofbarlow]

Talking about walls, there is absolutely no wall for a driver to hit. This will be a great drivers track but also looks like a very forgiving track.

Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

I just don't think the FIA will allow it.

More importantly I wonder how blind apex cresting turns and a rather abrupt elevation change in the first turn won't lead to excitement.

Is there only one layer of pavement to lay down, or do they do multiple? How long are we thinking until surface completion? Two weeks?

[hairy_scotsman]

Talking about walls, there is absolutely no wall for a driver to hit. This will be a great drivers track but also looks like a very forgiving track.

Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

I just don't think the FIA will allow it.

More importantly I wonder how blind apex cresting turns and a rather abrupt elevation change in the first turn won't lead to excitement.

Is there only one layer of pavement to lay down, or do they do multiple? How long are we thinking until surface completion? Two weeks?

I agree that the track looks very exciting in many different areas. Hellmund & Schwantz did a fantastic job.

Re: the paving. 2 weeks is unlikely imho. What they did Tuesday was, as far as I can gather, a test area. Much of the track isn't yet ready for paving.

[WilliamsF1]

Talking about walls, there is absolutely no wall for a driver to hit. This will be a great drivers track but also looks like a very forgiving track.

Tilke did his usual job, but should have added an element of danger to the circuit that is missing.

I just don't think the FIA will allow it.

FIA is always a mystery; Should have a look at Suzuka (from the s curves to degner 2), makes you wonder on the rules for grade 1 homologation.

[hairy_scotsman]

http://totalf1.com/full_story/view/4155 ... goes_down/

The Circuit of the Americas in Austin is beginning to take shape following the application of the first layer of asphalt on Tuesday.

Whilst it's believed construction remains behind schedule following heavy rainfall during the tail-end of 2011, application of the first of three layers of asphalt is promising.

The unique formula has been developed especially for the climate and region, according to Dr. Rainer Hart of Hart Consult International which has worked with Hermann Tilke on various F1 circuits.

...

The final layer won't be laid until a month before the event takes place in November to avoid damage from construction machinery.

[hairy_scotsman]

Here's the latest flyby aerial photo, just tweeted by @mazzydan. I think I know that guy.

ETA: My bad. It's not the latest, It's from the 29th. But it gives another look.

[Pup]

Latest photos...

[strad]

Does look like it is coming together...Darest I get excited?