21/05/2010
NEWS STORY
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With plans for a Grand Prix in New Jersey's Liberty Park seemingly abandoned, another venue is now being mooted as home to the United States Grand Prix.
According to AutoWeek, Ari Strauss - president of Monticello Motor Club (MMC) in upstate New York - is in talks with Bernie Ecclestone with a view to hosting the race on the club's own circuit, located in what is essentially a "private country club".
Ninety minutes from New York City, Monticello Motor Club is located in the Catskill Mountains with Sullivan County International Airport just ten minutes away.
In his letter, Strauss admits that securing a deal to host a Grand Prix is like "winning the Olympics", admitting that "competition is fierce" and that the deal is far from done.
Strauss reveals that he and Monticello Motor Club chairman Bill McMichael have met with Ecclestone with a view to securing a 10-year deal. He also claims that Herman Tilke has visited the venue and believes that following some "expansion and minor track modifications" (groan) it would be capable of hosting a round of the world championship.
While he waits on the next move from Ecclestone, Strauss reveals that he and McMichael are working with "local, state and federal politicians and organizations", in an attempt to garner support and, presumably, funding.
The layout under consideration - one of 12 different configurations - is 4.1 miles long and features 22 turns. It was designed by British former F1 and Sports Car driver Brian Redman and Bruce Hawkins, a track architect and engineer.
"At this juncture, we are simply honoured that F1 is considering our venue as the future, exclusive home for the US Grand Prix," writes Strauss. "It would transform the region into one of the motorsports capitals of the world, bring thousands of jobs to Sullivan County, inject over $100M each year into the local economy, and place your private club in the company of famous racing circuits like Monza and Spa."