New York to host Formula One race from 2013
"This is going to be an economic boom for this whole region," West New York mayor Felix Roque said. "While political and public servants talk about creating jobs, the governor has put the pedal to the metal and delivered.
"This is the top of the line in motor racing, it's incredible."
Formula One returns to the United States next year for the first time since 2007 with a race in Austin, Texas. And the promoters there, Full Throttle Productions, have a deal until 2021.
But F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has long hankered after a race in the New York region, making use of Manhattan’s famous backdrop, and it seems his dream is to become a reality.
It has been claimed that the race - which is likely to run back-to-back with Montreal - will take place on a four-lane motorway that runs alongside the Hudson River in Weehawken, West New York.
"It will provide a very challenging course," West New York attorney Joe DeMarco said. "They compare it to Spa in Belgium but it will have the feel of Monaco.""It has been contemplated to at least run for ten years but there are options and so on depending on the success of it. Hopefully it will be a long term event, embraced by residents and the community."
F1 had previously held races in the state of New York at Watkins Glen in Schuyler County, some 250 miles from New York City.
Watkins Glen International held the United States Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980 while F1 races have also been held at Long Beach in California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Indianapolis, whose eight-year run ended with Lewis Hamilton’s victory there four years ago.
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