F1 movie director Howard to be guest at Circuit of Americas

Circuit of The Americas and the Circuit Events Host Committee today announced that two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard (2013’s Rush) will be the special celebrity guest at The Starting Grid, the official kick-off luncheon for festivities leading up to the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™. The luncheon is set for Thursday, Nov. 1, at the downtown Hilton Hotel, located at 500 East 4th Street in Austin. KTBC FOX 7 Sports Anchor Dave Cody will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. CST.

Ron Howard has become an entertainment legend as a director, producer and actor. He has directed worldwide blockbusters including A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Backdraft, Cinderella Man, Cocoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Parenthood, Ransom, Splash, The Da Vinci Code, and many more. He received Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture in 2001 for A Beautiful Mind and was nominated for Best Director in 2008 for Frost/Nixon.

Howard will give luncheon attendees an inside look at his upcoming epic-action drama, Rush, which stars Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) as the charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl (Inglorious Basterds) as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda, whose clashes on the Formula 1™ Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives. Rush is currently in postproduction and will be released on Sept. 20, 2013.

“We are thrilled to have Ron Howard, a gifted entertainer and true American treasure, as our special guest for the official kick-off to Formula 1™ festivities in Austin, said Circuit Events Host Committee Executive Director Sandy West. “F1™ will make its grand re-entry to the United States in Central Texas this November, and it’s serendipitous to have one of the most dramatic, real-life F1 stories debuting on the big screen shortly after. While he was directing Rush, Mr. Howard spent several months immersed in the world of Formula 1, learning about its history, politics and personalities. We look forward to learning more about his on-set experience and his insights into the sport’s past and present."

Texas Governor Rick Perry and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell are expected to address luncheon attendees, along with two of Circuit of The Americas’ founding partners, Bobby Epstein and Red McCombs.