Austin (COTA)

The brainchild of promoter Tavo Hellmund and originally supported by former motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, the undulating and spectacular Circuit Of The Americas has been the home of Formula 1 in the United States since 2012. Earlier designs from architect Hermann Tilke may have met with a lukewarm reception but COTA has proved a popular addition to the calendar. It features an uphill, wide first corner, sweeping subsequent section and long backstretch, all of which is dominated by a 77-metre observation tower. MotoGP, the World Endurance Championship, IndyCar and NASCAR races have since been added as COTA cemented its place on the world stage.