Two-Race U.S. Platform

Under the auspices of Formula One Management, FOM, an unprecedented second race, was announced before the Circuit of the Americas was even completed, a second race on the east coast, through the urban-residential streets of Weehawken, New Jersey, directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan skyscrapers.

The proposed New Jersey race was named, The Grand Prix of America, a different name, to create a completely implausible, illogical, and indefensible separation from the U.S. Grand Prix at Austin.

On October 25, 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christy confirmed the race in a press conference on the shores of the Hudson River.

The announcement of the New Jersey race was perceived, particularly in Texas, as the undermining of COTA. Ironically enough, what was deemed an appallingly unacceptable proposal; of an additional race to Austin, Texas, is today and utterly uncontested and accepted eventuality.

A objective of a second race was to gain public interest and increase commercial market share within America, which, 11 years later, F1 is still trying to figure out how to accomplish.

As a result, the Weehawken Grand Prix, and a long sought after two-race platform involving the New York Tri-State area, never materialized. Since driving 20 F1 cars on narrow, residential, partly tree-lined streets, past semi-detached middle-class homes, in Weehawken, New Jersey, while pretending it's a New York event, is almost as crazy as proposing a large-scale temporary venue within an expansive oceanfront park, where the race would benefit the park, which by the way, actually is in New York —finally giving F1 a New York address.

In either case, both the New Jersey and the U.S. Grand Prix at Jones Beach proposals are attempting to solve the holy grail of F1 in America:

how to elevate F1 in America

support a two-race platform

increase F1's audience and sponsorship revenue

One answer is having two races, which seems almost simplistic since there has never been a shortage of cities or existing venues, including established street circuits, to achieve a second race.

You see, after 60 years, chipping away at deeply rooted historical problems by adding a race event may not be what's needed without having first addressed:

lack of awareness and understanding of F1

monumental lack of self-promotion by F1 in America

impeding effects of F1's departure from America

The attempt at a two-race platform, comprised of New Jersey & Texas, did not consider these issues. It remains to be seen if the Florida & Texas combination with a proposed race at Dolphin Stadium in Miami can?

Two-Race U.S. Platform - Combined Ability

Combined ability

The New Jersey-Texas combination was an attempt at realizing, in part, 7 concepts of the U.S. Grand Prix at Jones Beach proposal:

F1 belongs in New York

F1 needs multiple races in America.

sustainability through a stable two-race platform

a permanent advertising presence in Manhattan

counteract F1's absence from America and the region

confidently reach F1's American target market

finally, bridge Formula 1 Racing to non-motorsports audiences

(particularly to women, as a new and fashionable entertainment option.)

Manhattan, the media capital, and the pure magic of Jones Beach, with American centric circuit and race visibility, have the combined ability to achieve all these objectives and provide F1 a sustainable future by:

announcing F1 before & during its arrival phase

amplifying F1 during its time in America and the region

reinforcing F1 long after it departs the region

Then, repeating this unparalleled, cumulative support cycle from New York year after year, not only for the benefit of the North American races but for all F1 races.

Effectively keeping America connected to Formula One and its races worldwide, and the world, connected to F1's presence in Manhattan, Jones Beach, and Austin, Texas.

Texas and New York /// Two-Race U.S. Platform /// Formula 1 New York