Masters Historic race at the Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix 2022 at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on October 21-23, 2022. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
Race 1
Jamie Constable controlled proceedings during the opening Masters Historic Race of the weekend, in support of Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix. Constable streaked clear from pole position and fronted the field into the imposing Turn 1 hairpin, before opening a slender but comfortably advantage for much of the 20-minute + 1 lap encounter. Constable ultimately led all 11 laps of the race to pick up victory at the Circuit of the Americas aboard the Tyrrell 011B, with the race finishing behind the Safety Car following an incident for Stephen Romak.
The rear wing detached from the Tyrrell 012-6 and the field was neutralised as time expired. Much of the intrigue in the race was focused on the battle for the runner-up position. Cal Meeker and Jonathan Holtzman preserved their grid positions on the opening lap but Holtzman launched a daring move into the Turn 1 hairpin on the second lap to move ahead and emerge as Constable’s nearest rival. But rather than pursue the leader Holtzman was unable to escape Meeker’s clutches and the Canadian eventually regained the position, leaving them in second and third respectively through to the flag.
Lee Mowle was fourth in the Lotus 78/2 while Bud Moeller guided his Williams FW08C past Ron Maydon’s LEC CRP1 early on to take fifth spot, with Maydon also overhauled by Dan Collins in the Lotus 91/8. Gray Gregory collected eighth position in the March 761 with the March 741 of Richard Griot moved up to ninth place. Penske PC4 driver Doug Mockett rounded out the top 10 at the conclusion of an encounter watched on by packed grandstands at the Circuit of the Americas. Sunday’s second race, also of duration 20 minutes + 1 lap, is scheduled to begin at 10:55 local time.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time |
| 1 | 99 | Jamie CONSTABLE (L) | Tyrrell 011B | 11 | 24:08.750 |
| 2 | 14 | Cal MEEKER (H) | Tyrrell 009 | 11 | 24:09.335 |
| 3 | 37 | Jonathan HOLTZMAN (H) | Lotus 87B | 11 | 24:09.928 |
| 4 | 8 | Lee MOWLE (H) | Lotus 78/2 | 11 | 24:16.822 |
| 5 | 61 | Bud MOELLER (H) | Williams FW08 | 11 | 24:17.629 |
| 6 | 31 | Ron MAYDON (F) | LEC CRP1 | 11 | 24:26.484 |
| 7 | 15 | Gray GREGORY (F) | March 761 | 11 | 24:27.070 |
| 8 | 11 | Dan COLLINS (H) | Lotus 91/8 | 11 | 24:48.351 |
| 9 | 28 | Doug MOCKETT (F) | Penske PC4 | 11 | 25:22.548 |
| 10 | 9 | Richard GRIOT (F) | March 741 | 11 | 25:43.758 |
Race 2
Cal Meeker picked up victory in the second Masters Historic race of the weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in dramatic encounter on Sunday morning. Meeker dropped back on the opening lap, relinquishing second spot to Jonathan Holtzman, as Race 1 winner Jamie Constable checked out from pole position in fine and sunny conditions. However, Constable’s pursuit of a perfect weekend was interrupted when the Safety Car was called after Kyle Buxton’s March 77B came to a halt along the back straightaway.
The stricken car was swiftly removed and at the restart Holtzman threatened Constable’s position into the uphill Turn 1 – where drama struck. As the Tyrrell 011B and Lotus 87B rounded the hairpin the two cars tangled, with Constable’s car launched skywards and sustaining damage as it bounced back down onto the tarmac. Constable was out, and parked his car in a safe spot, and while Holtzman was able to continue Meeker snuck through to grab the lead in his Tyrrell 009.
From there, Meeker was never headed as he preserved a slender but comfortable buffer over Holtzman, with the race finishing behind the Safety Car after separate late issues for Laurent Parmentier in the Chevron B39 and Dave Zurlinden in the Ralt RT1. However, while Holtzman crossed the line in second the race stewards ultimately handed him a time penalty due to the clash with Constable, dropping him down the timing board. That meant the fight between Lee Mowle and Bud Moeller turned into a jostle for the runner-up position.
Moeller shadowed Mowle and made a move along the back straightaway, moving his Williams FW08 ahead of the Lotus 78/2, mere moments before the race-ending Safety Car was brought out. Masters Supremo, Ron Maydon, took fourth in the LEC CRP1, ahead of March 761 driver Gray Gregory and Lotus 91/8 racer Dan Collins. Doug Mockett (Penske PC4), Richard Griot (March 741), Steve Cook (Chevron B27) and Danny Baker (Ralt RT1) preserved their respective positions through the race, gaining two spots each respectively when Constable retired and Holtzman was excluded, to complete the top 10. (Source: Masters Historic Racing)
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time |
| 1 | 14 | Cal MEEKER (H) | Tyrrell 009 | 10 | 24:30.529 |
| 2 | 61 | Bud MOELLER (H) | Williams FW08 | 10 | 24:31.671 |
| 3 | 8 | Lee MOWLE (H) | Lotus 78/2 | 10 | 24:32.381 |
| 4 | 31 | Ron MAYDON (F) | LEC CRP1 | 10 | 24:33.454 |
| 5 | 15 | Gray GREGORY (F) | March 761 | 10 | 24:34.459 |
| 6 | 11 | Dan COLLINS (H) | Lotus 91/8 | 10 | 24:34.991 |
| 7 | 2 | Doug MOCKETT (F) | Penske PC4 | 10 | 24:36.128 |
| 8 | 9 | Richard GRIOT (F) | March 741 | 10 | 24:37.519 |
| 9 | 19 | Steve COOK (FA 79) | Chevron B27 | 10 | 24:38.113 |
| 10 | 70 | Danny BAKER (FA 79) | Ralt RT1 | 10 | 24:39.050 |
Circuit of the Americas History
This is the first circuit in the US to be purpose-built for Formula One. Both the race and the circuit were proposed in 2010 by promoter Tavo Hellmund and World Champion motorcyclist Kevin Schwantz. Assistance was provided by the Hermann Tilke group, and construction started later that year.
The circuit relies on the State of Texas to fund the $25 million fee charged by Formula One to hold the race every year. For FY2016, a conservative faction in the Texas state legislature proposed a 50% reduction in the contribution of the state to that fee, which would in effect have forced the race to be cancelled, or at least dropped to every-other-year status. That proposal was eventually voted down, but the specter of future attempts by the extremists is omnipresent.
In February 2022, the contract to host the United States Grand Prix at COTA was extended for an additional 5 years through the 2026 season.
Circuit of the Americas Layout
The circuit is built on hilly range land, about 10 miles southeast of Austin. It runs counter-clockwise, placing unusual stress loads on the drivers. The course has four basic sections: the 0.6 km start/finish strait, with a sharp uphill section ending in a 135° lefthander; an eight turn sequence inspired by the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel section of Silverstone; another sharp hairpin leading onto a 1.1 km back straight; and a final series of tight corners that includes a near replica of turn 8 at Istanbul Park (but taken in the opposite direction).
Inside the turn 8 replica (known here as turns 17 and 18) is an amphitheater, designed for crowds up to 15,000, but somehow they squeezed in 80,000 fans for a Taylor Swift concert, the night before the 2016 United States Grand Prix. Immediately behind the amphitheater stage is a 77 meter (253 ft) tall observation tower and centerpiece, giving views of the track and all of the Austin metro area.
In between turns six and seven, a pair of short connecting roads create smaller courses for testing and lower formulae. With these roads, it is possible for two separate groups to hold events or conduct testing simultaneously.
The track configuration has never changed since the track opened. However, a concert stage for larger acts has now been set up along the back straight, facing the infield and the grandstands above Turn 10. This configuration is capable of accommodating 100,000 fans.
Masters Historic Racing
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Circuit of The Americas
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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