The Formula One returns to Austria

Growing up my father has always been a big motor racing fan. A few of my earliest memories with him are sitting on the couch together and watching Formula One races, even though back then I didn’t have a clue what was going on. When I was eight he even took me to one race, the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, which became infamous amongst sport fans for its staged finish where race leader Rubens Barrichello was ordered to let Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher overtake him. This race I watched in 2002 would actually be the penultimate Formula One race in Austria for a long time – eleven years to be a bit more specific. Spielberg hosted Formula One events in 1964, from 1970 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2003. And tomorrow the big event will take place once again.

The first Formula One championship race in Austria took place in 1964 at a track called Zeltweg Airfield and was won by Lorenzo Bandini in Ferrari. It was the first and only race to take place at this track, because even though the race was a success, the track was deemed to be too dangerous as it was narrow and bumpy. Austria was removed from the Formula One calendar until a more suitable track was built.

Six years late the Formula One came back to Austria, this time to a track called Österreichring (in English “Austria circuit”). It was built in midst of the Styrian mountains and the beautiful scenery made the Austrian Grand Prix unique. However, due to the fact that the track was located in this rural area it sometimes happened that cows or deer crossed the circuit during the race. Although drivers generally liked the new, fast track, it was still very dangerous: it was known for its many crashes at the start and in 1975 American driver Mark Donohue died after crashing at the Vost-Hugel Kurve. That’s the reason why the track was slowed down a bit afterwards, but the speed stayed a continuing problem until in 1987 the FIA once again removed the circuit from the Formula One calendar. During the next ten years the track was modernized and eventually renamed A1-Ring after its sponsor and from 1997 to 2003 the Formula One took place in Spielberg again.

The new layout of the circuit

After 2003 it wasn’t sure what Red Bull and Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of the circuit, would do with the site and even though much speculation appeared now and then, nothing came out of it until five years later. In 2008, Red Bull started to reconstruct the track and three years later, in 2011, DTM (another motor racing event) returned to the circuit which was now called Red Bull Ring. The Grand Prix of America, which was originally planned to be included in the 2014 Formula One season, was postponed and following that it was announced that the Red Bull Ring would get the open slot and the Formula One would once again return to Austria.

The general public seems to be excited or at least positive about the return of the race to Austria. Most see it as an opportunity to show off the most beautiful side of our country to the world as the track is still surrounded by idyllic Styrian mountainsides and retained its unique charm. However, some people who are living in the region aren’t so happy about it and complain about the whole turmoil that the race weekend will bring. I for my part think the return of the race is a good thing. Of course, I don’t live in Spielberg or a surrounding village, but I think the event will bring a lot of positive attention to Austria. Plus, it’s only four or five days where the area is flooded by people, after that it will be as deserted and quiet as usual, so all local residents will certainly survive it.