If you are anything like me, you can’t wait to take a few laps around the new Circuit of the Americas (COTA) facility outside of Austin, Texas. The only purpose-built GP course in the United States, COTA will host MotoGP for the first time ever this April, giving motorcycle racing fans three races in the United States this year.
If MotoGP is anything like Formula One, then COTA will also attract a number of international fans as well, as last year’s F1 race attracted a number of Mexican fans, along with a number of fans from Latin and South America — so much so that CRT-rider Yonny Hernandez might have to consider COTA his home round.
While Asphalt & Rubber will make the trek out to Texas later this year to see MotoGP race at this new circuit, and witness first-hand the dinosaur-shaped observation tower, tastefully painted curbs, and general Southern hospitality, that fresh tarmac beckons us.
Taking a few laps on this 20-turn circuit will be difficult though, as COTA offers only a limited-number of dates for track rentals, and more importantly, the going rental price is $50,000 per day (lunch included). Ouch!
For that money though, one will get to apex on the same turns as Jorge Lorenzo and Sebastian Vettel, as well as the following perks:
- Exclusive use of the Circuit of The Americas full Grand Prix road racing course.
- Pit access, designated paddock loft access, garage access and track access for an entire day.
- Bring your cars and your friends – your group can include up to 24 people.
- Fully staffed track, including track manager, driving instructor, timing system, corner workers and emergency workers.
- Create your own experience: structured race program with practice, qualifying and race session (timed or open racing) or create your own agenda.
- Catered lunch.
- Transportation to track from Austin area hotel.
- Concierge service for hotel, dinner reservations, spa and shopping.
Source: Circuit of the Americas
Wow. I’d love to ride that circuit, but those prices will likely make it out of reach for anyone but those with a well-endowed wallet. $50,000 divided by 24 people is ~$2,083 per person and that’s before there’s any overhead for the organization sponsoring the track day. Guess I’ll keep buying my lottery tickets!
I can’t believe that this will be the only option. It’s obviously tailored to a very high end enthusiast (i.e., concierge, hotel transportation, etc.). I don’t think there is any way they’ll fill capacity serving only this market. It seems like they’ll have to offer ‘normal’ dates that don’t have all the extras included – they’d be leaving money on the table if they didn’t.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. IMS doesn’t have track days either. When I asked IMS why, the response I got was something along the lines of it going against the prestige of the venue.
Wow, that sure looks purdy…
Well, that would suck…the best track in the country and almost nobody will get to ride it. Somehow, I don’t think the prestige of Laguna is diminished by allowing paying fans to ride it for sub $500 – and they have real limitations on how many days they can actually create noise.
I think the real issue is nobody really wants to ride the hokey pokey part of IMS that turns right.
Ride Smart has moto track days at CotA June 1-2 for $460…
well 460 isnt that musch for a track like this…I spend twice that much on every race weekend.
I wonder how “slow” it will feel running around there on a 250 gp bike…the strait to turn one is a lot steeper than it looks on tv
More proof that this sport is pricing itself out of reach for many.
“Going against the prestige of the venue.” Arrogance at its best. Wouldn’t they be ablet o increase their market penetration by allowing some of the spectators to participate? Seems to work at Laguna Seca just fine. Albeit, only a very limited number of trackdays, and at that facility there are noise restrictions. However people continue to fork over some bux to make it out to that track. Same thing at Phillip Island…, right?
Ride Smart sounds like they’ve been able to negotiate a more appropriate trackday. (and they have a V4 on their homepage. Bonus points.)
From what I understand, Ride Smart and a couple other groups have days because COTA was forced to honor its earlier contracts. So, register for those days now, it’s probably your only chance.
Austin really does have high hopes for the new GP circuit: “Hotel prices in Austin for this year’s US Grand Prix are now higher than equivalent rates in Monaco, suggest reports.”
http://www.crash.net/f1/news/188400/1/austin_pricing_itself_out_of_hotel_market.html
(Hope it’s OK to post relevant links, JB. If not, apologies!)
It is asinine how hotels treat their guest by absolutely screwing them on the price of a room. Things are expensive enough as it is without being stabbed in the back.
Just think if every business conducted themselves like this. During Thanksgiving the price of a turkey tripled. Or that barbie doll your daughter wanted is not $200. LAME
If I win a rude amount of tattslotto money, I think I’ll gain 23 new friends in the US :)
re: “More proof that this sport is pricing itself out of reach for many”
more proof that what “fan-sumers” ultimately want is free lunch.
re: “Just think if every business conducted themselves like this. During Thanksgiving the price of a turkey tripled. Or that barbie doll your daughter wanted is not $200.”
apples to oranges. all of that’s big business, motorycling is niche business.
Bug business can consist of many niches, F1 will be #1, but motoGP will be the second biggest slice of the pie… That demographic is a pretty big “niche” to ignore.
re: “but motoGP will be the second biggest slice of the pie”.
this is just something we DESIRE to be true, not something that IS true. a decade of denial is what’s gotten us in the deplorable state that we now find ourselves.
re: “That demographic is a pretty big “niche” to ignore”.
fox sports says different.
re: “Going against the prestige of the venue.” Arrogance at its best.”
no, they’re actually trying to spare your feelings. what they really wanna say is we have wealth going back generations. the little pittance of money you and your group wants to pay isn’t enough to get us out of bed in the morning, nevermind bring us in off the golf course… you’ll have to come off the dime.