Charlie Whiting visits Austin circuit

Circuit of The Americas today announced that FIA Formula One Race Director Charlie Whiting visited its soon-to-be-completed sports and entertainment complex in southeast Travis County and gave the company high marks for progress made on the purpose-built Grand Prix facility and its 3.4-mile racing circuit.

Whiting heads the Formula 1 Technical Department and manages the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix. His responsibilities include inspecting F1 host sites and race cars to ensure they comply with FIA rules, monitoring and enforcing safety issues important to the sport, and serving as the official starter of each race. Whiting’s visit comes on the heels of the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal on June 10, the first of two stops the F1 series will make in North America this year, with Austin’s race weekend set for Nov. 16-18.

“It is clear that the significant resources Circuit of The Americas has committed to completing this facility on time and to FIA specifications is making a difference," Whiting said. “The more than 500 construction workers on site daily are making great progress, and I plan to return to Austin at the end of August for an update. My formal pre-race inspection is set for Sept. 25, which is 60 days before the scheduled start of the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. From the world-class motorsports facilities and fan areas to the racecourse itself, which promises to be one of the most challenging new additions to our season, I believe Circuit of The Americas has the ability to put on a great show and spectacular Grand Prix in its inaugural year. I look forward to my next visit in August."