Circuit of The Americas today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Pike Powers Laboratory and Center for Commercialization to conduct research, development and commercialization activities for a number of environmentally focused projects at the Circuit’s 1,500-acre sports and entertainment complex in Central Texas. The Pike Powers Lab is operated by Pecan Street Inc., a premier research institute based at The University of Texas at Austin. The Pike Powers Lab began operations in April; its official grand opening will take place in June.
Fabian Coulthard piloted his No. 14 Lockwood Racing Holden to victory in the first of Sunday’s two afternoon races, proving that Jamie Whincup and his No. 1 Red Bull car were not infallible. But Whincup re-claimed the top spot in the last of the four V8 Supercars Austin 400 races, with Coulthard finishing second. By winning three of the weekend’s four races and finishing third in the other, Whincup clearly claimed the title as the event’s star performer. But Red Bull Racing Australia teammate Craig Lowndes in the No. 888 Red Bull Racing Australia vehicle was no slouch, claiming three consecutive second-place trophies before finishing fifth in the final V8 competition of the weekend, Race 16. Overall it was a great weekend for all three drivers, with Coulthard leaving Circuit of the Americas™ with a first-place trophy, a second and two thirds. He finished second behind Whincup in Sunday’s final race after collecting two third-place trophies in both of Saturday’s 100-km races.
Photos by Dillon Fleharty and Jaclyn Hill
Circuit of The Americas gave U.S. motorsports fans their first taste of V8 Supercars’ mad scramble, bumper-to-bumper style of racing, as Australia’s most popular motorsport made its debut on U.S. soil at the new world-class sports and entertainment complex in Central Texas May 17-19 during the V8 Supercars Austin 400. Attendance for the three-day event, which was marked by record temperatures in the mid-90s, was 68,891. Approximately nine percent of fans who purchased tickets in advance of the race came from Australia to watch their Supercars heroes compete under the red-hot Texas sun. Circuit of The Americas sold tickets to the event in more than 30 states, including Texas. “We would like to thank our fans, employees and vendors; the V8 Supercars series managers, teams and drivers; the Pirelli World Championship family; and our incredibly accommodating host city of Austin for helping us stage another spectacular event,” Circuit President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Sexton said. “V8 Supercars lived up to its billing for dynamic racing and a fan-friendly environment—and we had some die-hard fans here given the very warm temperatures. Our Australian visitors were good sports and loads of fun, and we’re glad that people from around the world had a chance to visit Central Texas and our new state-of-the art facility.”
Photos by: Rick Dole, Lacey Seymour, Keith Rizzo