Circuit of the Americas

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a racing venue that hosts one of the Formula One World Championship races - the United States Grand Prix.

Circuit of the Americas is a dedicated motor-racing circuit situated in Austin, Texas, in the United States. It has an FIA Grade 1 license, which means that the circuit meets the highest standard of safety, infrastructure, layout, and other facilities.

The construction of the actual circuit for its first Grand Prix began in August 2007, and the inaugural race - the United States Grand Prix took place in September 2008. Not being a dedicated circuit purpose-built for racing, the circuit surface was criticized for being excessively bumpy.

The first proposal for the circuit and the Grand Prix was made in the middle of 2010. The construction of the Circuit of the Americas began in December 2010 and the circuit was ready to host its inaugural race in 2012.

Circuit de Americas became the first purpose-built race track in America for Formula One, and its ceremonial first laps were driven by Mario Andretti on his Lotus 79, the same car he drove when he became the first American to win a Formula One Drivers' Championship in 1978.

The layout of the track was conceived by  Motorcycle World Champion Kebin Schwartz and Tavo Hellmund in collaboration with German Formula One circuit designer Hermann Tilke, who has also designed circuits like Sepang International Circuit, Yas Marina Circuit, Nurburgring, and many others.

Circuit of the Americas is famous for its signature first turn - a hairpin that drivers enter in a steep uphill and then immediately drops back down in a steep downhill. The track, however, has been created with inspiration from other popular circuits like Silverstone and Hockenheimring in various sections.

Circuit of the Americas is now one of the most famous circuits in America, and besides Formula One, the venue hosts multiple other events like NASCAR's Texas Grand Prix, Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas - a round in MotoGP, FIA World Endurance Championship, and many others.