Austin RV spots for F1 race weekend going for top dollar

Monaco has its yachts. Circuit of the Americas will have a small sea of RVs.
At the racetrack under construction southeast of Austin, track-side RV parking spots will be among the most prized places from which to watch the Formula One race planned for November.

The spots — 78 along the back straightaway — will offer people a familiar place to stay throughout the race weekend without the worry of getting stuck in post-race traffic, which organizers have estimated will take race-goers two to three hours to clear.

And like the Monaco harbor, where multimillion-dollar yachts are anchored at track-side berths that can cost $100,000 and more during races, the RV spots at Circuit of the Americas won't come cheap: $15,000 a year, with two- to three-year terms.

"There's been a huge amount of interest since the inception of the project," circuit spokeswoman Ali Putnam said of RV parking. "The demand is there. It's something people are looking forward to — watching the race from that perspective — so that's something we wanted to offer."

Circuit organizers have begun contacting people on a waiting list who have expressed interest in RV parking, Putnam said.

Camping in RVs and tents at racetracks is a time-honored tradition. Many U.S. racetracks offer RV camping within the venue, including spaces along the track.

In Europe, thousands of fans camp in tents and RVs near circuits that host F1 races, such as Monza in Italy and Silverstone in England.

"It's a great way to experience 100 percent of an event. You really feel like you're in the middle of the action," said Andrew Booth, a spokesman for Florida's Daytona International Speedway, which hosts NASCAR and other races. "Usually, the one constant thing is it's always festive, almost like you're tailgating during the entire race." The Statesman