In the round-up: Another major series is likely to race at the Circuit of the Americas in 2024.
In brief
COTA teases return of a big series for 2024
Circuit of the Americas CEO Bobby Epstein has indicated the venue of Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix could be hosting another major racing series in 2024.
Alongside F1, COTA features on the Moto GP and NASCAR Cup calendars. During the 2010s it hosted IndyCar, IMSA and the World Endurance Championship. Epstein was asked whether those may return to COTA during a call with media including RaceFans.
“I’d like to see that,” he said. “What that would mean? Right. I’m a venue. I’m the theatre. So to see everyone back here racing would mean that those [championships] have succeeded in building a fanbase that will buy tickets. Because that’s not our job. We don’t get the budget and we don’t get the TV revenue. We don’t build sports, right? We put on events.
“If you see all those back here, it’s because they’re selling enough tickets for the promoter to make it worthwhile, or because they they value the competition that COTA creates on the track.”
He added: “I think you will see another one of the [series] names that you mentioned back here in the next year. But from our standpoint, we need the fans to show up and right now there’s no question that F1 and NASCAR and Moto GP dominate.”
Frijns returns to Abt Cupra seat in FE
Robin Frijns will be back in Formula E at this weekend’s Sao Paulo EPrix as he returns to his Abt Cupra seat after missing the last four races.
A wrist-breaking crash at the season-opening Mexico City E-Prix ruled Frijns out of action for two months. He made his racing return last weekend in the Sebring 1000 Miles as he is also racing in the World Endurance Championship this year.
Kelvin van der Linde stood in for Frijns in the FE events he was absent from, although he also missed a race as Abt had to withdraw their cars from last month’s Cape Town EPrix over safety concerns.
“It feels insanely good to be preparing for a race again with Nico [Muller, team mate] and the whole team – it’s so good to be back”, said Frijns. “The past two months have felt like an eternity. Many thanks to the team, the FIA, all the doctors and physios, and the whole FE paddock, who have been patient with me despite me being so impatient.
“My hand feels good, racing in Sebring went smoothly, I’m fit for Sao Paulo. I was in contact with the team the whole time, was involved in…
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