- Aiming to be a FIM level one and FIA level two track
- First events to run in 2023, with first major event planned for 2024
- No current plans to make the track F1-ready
Construction has begun on a new circuit in Tennessee called Flatrock Motorsports Park ahead of an initial opening next season.
The US$100 million project is set to be a level one track for the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and a level two track for the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
This means any motorcycle category up to MotoGP will be able to race on the circuit, while open-wheel series like IndyCar will also be able to stage events.
There are currently no plans to make adjustments for the circuit to host Formula One, as founding partner Rusty Bittle told motorsport news website Racer.
“I don’t think that Knoxville has the hospitality for Formula One,” he explained.
“I think there’s always the potential there to attract the big series, but I think it’s going to take some time for us to get hospitality on-site.
“We’re going to have at least a four-star hotel and some other hotels on-site. Once those get built I think we can start getting the big boys to look at us.”
Bittle also confirmed to Racer that Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed ahead of the track's opening. He added: “We will have some events in 2023 and have got what I consider to be a pretty major event in 2024 as well.”
The ground-breaking ceremony for the track came just days after the record-breaking United States Grand Prix, and the timing of this was certainly intentional.
“I think motorsports is booming in the United States and I think everyone is aware of that, so it’s not as difficult as it would have been a few years ago, that’s for sure,” said Bittle.
“I think ‘Drive to Survive’ brought more women into motorsports and that’s the best thing you could have ever done, so it’s helped tremendously.
“We’re in the membership stages now and we’ve got people joining the club who have never even been on a track, but have found they love motorsport so much.”