An F1 race on the streets of New Jersey, with a New York City backdrop, will become a reality next year. Having studied the project, 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti is highly confident that the event could become one of the sport’s most popular ever.
F1 makes its American return this season, at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas facility in Austin, Texas. The New Jersey event will then join the calendar in 2013.
“I looked at the layout at New York and my first take on that was, ‘Actually, this is really good!’” Andretti said in an exclusive GPUpdate.net interview. “3.2 miles in length and, looking at the features of the track, it’s really, really good. I have no doubt they will pull that one off, quite honestly; knowing the people involved there I feel very, very confident – I really do – that that one is going to come off.
“I know Bernie Ecclestone has been really wanting to be in the proximity of New York City. Well, he got it and I think that could really develop into something very, very interesting and I hope it does for many reasons.”
During his career, Andretti won a total of 12 Grands Prix as well as his 1978 world title with Lotus. He has also triumphed in both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.
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