Formula 1 has announced changes to the proposed 2021 Miami Grand Prix including a change of schedule and an altered track layout after local opposition.
Fears of disruption to the Miami Gardens community means that practice will start no sooner than 3pm on Friday, with the school bell essentially signifying the start of on-track action.
Images released by F1 show a new layout that will no longer incorporate Northwest 199th Street over traffic concerns.
The moves to alleviate fears that the race would disrupt the local community come ahead of a vital vote for F1’s 2021 Miami Grand Prix aspirations.
Some local groups are against the race taking place at all in the Miami Gardens area; Formula 1 officials have already offered scientific evidence that proved there are no credible health threats to local residents caused by the racing.
A Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners meeting will take place on Wednesday to vote on a measure put forward by Commissioner Barbara Jordan that seeks to rescind the zoning rights currently held by the Hard Rock Stadium.
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Original plans to run the race around Port Miami met heavy opposition and plans were altered to stage the event around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
An “agreement in principle” between vice chairman and CEO of Hard Rock Stadium Tom Garfinkel and soon-to-be departing F1 managing director of commercial operations, Sean Bratches, was reached last year.
A $40million circuit would be built within the land surrounding the stadium, with the new changes moving the straight nearest 199th Street toward the stadium.
“The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is another example of a world-class event coming to our region,” said Garfinkel
“Like the Super Bowl, an event like this provides a unique opportunity to proudly showcase our region to the world.
“We want these events to benefit everyone in the region, including local Miami Gardens residents, and we look forward to working with Superintendent Carvalho, Dr. Steve Gallon, and the District to bring innovative STEM programming to local students, such as ‘Formula 1 in Schools,’ a global engineering competition.”
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