October 3, 2011 by joesaward
More has emerged about the plans for a Formula 1 circuit in Argentina. The plan was dreamed up by businessman Eddie Freedman, who was born in Montreal to German parents, but who has family connections with Argentina.
He moved to Argentina a couple of years ago and wanted to drive his own cars without getting into trouble and so bought a piece of land and began planning his own circuit. From this idea, grew the concept of Velociudad, a multifunctional motorsport complex, with seating for 50,000, with its own luxury hotel and convention centre, driving academy and engineering school, with facilities for car companies and private owners to test their cars.
Located alongside the main National Route 9, 50 miles from Buenos Aires and 135 from Rosario, and close to the city of Zarate, the facility will cost $100 million to build, but Freedman says that he has the money from private investors and hopes that the track will be finished in 2013. Freedman says that he has been a Formula 1 fan since his childhood and would love to see an F1 race at the track and has hired track designers Populous to ensure that the circuit is of the right level for F1. Populous has been increasingly involved in racing in recent years, notably with the new Silverstone and with the Dubai Autodrome. The result is a 3.3-mile circuit with a lap time of around 90 seconds and top speeds of 170 mph. The longest straight with be 560 metres, which is short for F1.
The chance of a Grand Prix will rely mainly on the government as the funding of the rights to hold a race is beyond Freedman and his fellow investors. However, in recent days the Argentine government has announced a deal for a MotoGP race at the Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo in the Santiago del Estero province and the country’s president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced the deal, along with Minister for Tourism Enrique Meyer and the local governor. Motorsport has a huge following in Argentina with the annual Dakar Rally the key event these days, in addition to a strong national touring car series.
It is worth remembering that former Grand Prix driver Carlos Reutemann is a leading member of the Partido Justicialista, which has been the ruling party in the country for many years. He remains a senator and a man with much political influence. Reutemann, of course, made his name with Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team in the 1970s before moving on to drive for Ferrari, Lotus and Williams.
Credit: JJOE (joesaward.wordpress.com)
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