In a bizarre leftfield move, Formula One oligarch Bernie Ecclestone has announced that the United States Grand Prix will be back on the F1 schedule as early as the 2012 season, in an as-yet unbuilt circuit in Austin, Texas.
Ecclestone was known to want a return to the United States for F1, and recent weeks a series of possible venues have been touted, including one in Liberty State Park in New Jersey and at the Monticello Motor Club in New York state.
But despite claiming that he saw New York City as the best base for a future US GP, Ecclestone has pulled out a deal to run a race in Austin starting in two seasons time.
The race will be at a "purpose-built" track, and the deal has been signed for an initial ten years.
"For the first time in the history of Formula 1 in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event," Ecclestone crowed as he announced the deal.
"It was thirty years ago that the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix was last held on a purpose-built permanent road course circuit in Watkins Glen, NY (1961-1980), which enjoyed great success.
"Since then, F1 has been hosted by Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix all on temporary street circuits. Indianapolis joined the ranks of host cities in 2000 when they added a road course inside the famed oval.
"Lewis Hamilton won the last F1 United States Grand Prix in 2007, signalling the end to eight years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This however, will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for F1 in the US."
Ecclestone negotiated the deal with Tavo Hellmund, the managing partner of race promoters Full Throttle Productions, which sounds like a dodgy production company making videos featuring rally cars crashing a lot.
Hellmund bragged that: "This is a case of the right timing in the right place. As many Americans know, Austin has earned a reputation as one of the 'it' cities in the United States.
"We are extremely honoured and proud to reach an agreement with the F1 Commercial Rights Holder. We have been diligently working together for several years to bring this great event to Austin, the State of Texas and back to the United States.
"All parties involved have a great amount of trust and confidence in each other and are committed to establishing the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas as a prestigious global event."
No details were forthcoming about the proposed track layout, or the precise location of the new track, so expect another mediocre Tilkedrome to be scribbled down onto paper at some point in the near future.
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