HKS Behind the F1 Wheel

The Austin Formula One circuit master plan: What HKS Inc. will be working with

Formula One United States already had leading track designers Tilke GmbH on board to design the racing part of their grand prix circuit. Now they've selected the Dallas office of HKS Inc., the international firm behind Dallas' opulent Cowboys Stadium, as the building architects.

The deal has been brewing for a while, with HKS being talked about as the firm that best understands what US fans – and especially sporting audiences in Texas – really want from their sporting events.

Formula 1 United States Grand Prix chairman Tavo Hellmund returned from a trip to Europe to meet with Formula One Management just in time for this announcement. In a statement, he said, "Having industry leaders in sports facility architecture and design raises the bar for future motorsports facilities in this country and around the world. We are pleased that a collaboration of this caliber will take place in Texas."

The HKS client list looks like a who's who of NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS and college teams. Aside from Jerry Jones' megafacility in North Texas, HKS has put their mark on several other high-profile sporting venues, including Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the Lone Star Park race course in Grand Prairie.

However, this will be their first Formula One facility, so the expectation is that this could be a fairly unique endeavor. After all, this will be the first ever purpose-built grade one Formula One grand prix facility in the United States.

Hellmund has said he hopes that the course remains the home to the United States grand prix beyond the current 10 year contract, so that will require two things. Firstly, a world class track that drivers will want to race on: So far response to Tilke's design, with its signature rise-and-fall hairpin bend, has been amongst the most positive the firm has received in years. Secondly, it needs facilities that the fans are going to be happy with, like enough bathrooms. Considering that part of the design ethos of the track is to allow spectators to watch races from the grass banks, that's the kind of detail that will make this a different challenge for the firm.