COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[hairy_scotsman]

FWIW, I see concrete trucks coming and going from the Pit/Paddock area constantly whenever I visit the site (always in the daytime). I may go out there in a bit. If I do, I'll let you all know what I see.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Not bad at all, that is about 40 trucks worth!

I think it will be 100 with these. And to think it was done in about 7 hours, it is quiet amazing (if true).

That truck will only hold 10cy, Not very big for Texas. I expect to see concrete pumps that size.

[WhiteBlue]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97091

Austin F1 track set for August completion

Austin circuit constructionAustin's new Formula 1 track layout is set to be completed in the middle of August, AUTOSPORT can reveal, with construction efforts now fully back on course at the United States venue.

Although there was uncertainty about the future of the race last year amid a dispute over the contract - with work at the circuit being halted for several weeks - a big push by Austin's organisers ensured it remained on the final 2012 calendar issued by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in early December.

On the back of construction work having been resumed several weeks ago, race chiefs have confirmed that the recent delays will not have any negative effect on the event taking place. The current schedule is for the 3.4-mile track layout to be ready by the middle of August, with the rest of the infrastructure being completed well before the November 18 race date.

Senior representatives from the Circuit of the Americas, including president Steve Sexton, executive vice president Bruce Knox, director of racing operations Chuck Aksland, and chief marketing and sales officer Geoff Moore are in London this week for meetings with Bernie Ecclestone to update him on progress.

Moore told AUTOSPORT: "The race is on. Construction is happening six days a week. The paddock buildings are being topped off, work on the main grandstand has started and we are looking at mid-August for completion [of the track surface]."

Pressure on the construction efforts has been eased by the fact that the race's date has been shifted from an original June date to its November slot - where it will form a back-to-back with season finale Brazil.

Although a reported $25 million payment from local government, as part of a Major Event Trust Fund, will not be given to Austin officials in advance - track chiefs say the venue already has advanced funding in place to ensure completion of the track.

The money will be applied for after the race, once it is clear just how much tax revenue the Austin Grand Prix has generated for the local economy.

The total cost for the Circuit of the Americas is estimated at $350 million, with track chiefs hoping to attract 120,000 spectators for the inaugural event.

Several points are interesting:

• track completion predicted in August
• claim of complete funding in place
• cost estimate rising to $350m now

The most significant is the cost rise that has been incurred since the renegotiation of the F1 contract. All prior budgets have been below $300m AFAIK. It is an indication what the power struggle has done to the cost of the project. Naturally the cost for an accelerated building schedule working over time is more expensive. On top the cost for financing the race fee has also risen substantially.

[FW17]

All those numbers are media speculation, should not read too much into it.

They also plan to complete the tower and plaza for the inaugural which was not in the initial proposal.

[xpensive]

....

The most significant is the cost rise that has been incurred since the renegotiation of the F1 contract. All prior budgets have been below $300m AFAIK. It is an indication what the power struggle has done to the cost of the project. Naturally the cost for an accelerated building schedule working over time is more expensive. On top the cost for financing the race fee has also risen substantially.

There you go WB, as discussed earlier, 350 MUSD sounds far more realistic for a new track with all the facilities,
but I seriously doubt if the rather short but intense power-struggle had too much impact on that?

Now, where is that money coming from, the 25 MUSD Lone Star state money is miscalculation money in the context?

[FW17]

....

The most significant is the cost rise that has been incurred since the renegotiation of the F1 contract. All prior budgets have been below $300m AFAIK. It is an indication what the power struggle has done to the cost of the project. Naturally the cost for an accelerated building schedule working over time is more expensive. On top the cost for financing the race fee has also risen substantially.

There you go WB, as discussed earlier, 350 MUSD sounds far more realistic for a new track with all the facilities,
but I seriously doubt if the rather short but intense power-struggle had too much impact on that?

Now, where is that money coming from, the 25 MUSD Lone Star state money is miscalculation money in the context?

Probably someone got in more money acting like a moron.

[WhiteBlue]

Probably someone got in more money acting like a moron.

If you replace "money" with "cost" you are probably spot on.

.. I seriously doubt if the rather short but intense power-struggle had too much impact on that?

Where did you get the idea that it was short? They lost months of good weather over the issue. Not only the time when the project was on full stop but also time when the project was obviously on the back burner. That period was from July 2011 to December 2011. I'm pretty sure that this time loss is at the core of the cost over run now. No idea what you pay for over time in Texas. Those workers who work through the night and Saturdays will not do this for pocket money. I would not be surprised if it added 25% or more to the original price.

Contractors realize when you are with your back to the wall and this is where they make extra profits. Same story as extras on molds and dies. The customers screws the suppliers on standard contracts and the suppliers only wait for extra features that are later necessary to the specification. They recover all the fat they could not build into the original contract and a tidy premium to compensate for the hassle. Business as usual.

[FW17]

Probably someone got in more money acting like a moron.

If you replace "money" with "cost" you are probably spot on.

.. I seriously doubt if the rather short but intense power-struggle had too much impact on that?

Where did you get the idea that it was short? They lost months of good weather over the issue. Not only the time when the project was on full stop but also time when the project was obviously on the back burner. That period was from July 2011 to December 2011. I'm pretty sure that this time loss is at the core of the cost over run now. No idea what you pay for over time in Texas. Those workers who work through the night and Saturdays will not do this for pocket money. I would not be surprised if it added 25% or more to the original price.

Contractors realize when you are with your back to the wall and this is where they make extra profits. Same story as extras on molds and dies. The customers screws the suppliers on standard contracts and the suppliers only wait for extra features that are later necessary to the specification. They recover all the fat they could not build into the original contract and a tidy premium to compensate for the hassle. Business as usual.

Well the other moron was agreed to a race in June.

[xpensive]

....
Well the other moron was agreed to a race in June.

A very good point indeed W.

[WhiteBlue]

Well the other moron was agreed to a race in June.

The June date was always something provisional. I suspected right away when the Austin race was announced that it was meant to be run back to back with Brazil.

viewtopic.php?p=172247#p172247

That was May 2010. It takes no degree in logistics to figure that out.

Bernie started with a race in Canada and one in Brazil which could not be twinned. When he seriously started to look into the US situation again he must have realized that two races would be the best solution, one in summer and one in autumn.

[FW17]

Let's make a pact WB,

We will all try to refrain from making any comments on actions of Tevo or Bobby unless published in media.

-WF1

[hairy_scotsman]

....
Well the other moron was agreed to a race in June.

A very good point indeed W.

Hellmund was still present and visible in the project when the November date was announced. IIRC, he made the first press contact re: the new date after its announcement, and he also mentioned months before that he liked the idea of a late-season start for many reasons, not the least of which was the possibility of very hot June weather:

(11/3/2010): "We're going to be ready to go in June 2012, and hopefully we're able to get the date that we really want long-term"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDIfQ8xp ... h_response

Like WB said, that June date was always just provisional. Most people didn't expect that to stick. A Brazil pairing always just made too much sense.

[Pup]

I think that the relevant point is that while construction may have been delayed (by a month at most), the race itself has been delayed by 5 months. Therefore, the delay can't be blamed for cost overruns.

From what I gather, the primary reason for the increased cost was the additional soil engineering that had to be done to keep the track from looking like Elroy road in two years.

And I think it says something about the owners and their dedication to the project that they are willing to put more money in the project if it needs it. They basically dug a big ditch and buried $100 million in it, and you don't do that unless you're committed to doing the job right and seeing it through. Maybe some other F1 venues, like China and Brazil, should pay attention.

[hairy_scotsman]

Formula1.com has posted the USGP race weekend schedule:

http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail ... tates_882/

1PM is pretty much what I figured. It'll be nice that time of year. Yesterday we had a beautiful 80 degree cloudless day that's more typical of November than January.

BTW, here's a photo I shot yesterday afternoon of a very busy Turn 10. You can also see the Turn 9 flag, and work on the Paddock/Pit Building off in the distance.

[Pup]

I'm curious to see how much the track will be raised, if at all, from where it is now. It seems at the moment like the whole thing is bounded by retaining walls. Which could actually be interesting, imo.