The SBMRL returns to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for the October race of the 2024-25 season. It’s been 5 years since the last race there, pre-Covid, and it’ll be a celebratory atmosphere as it’s the one evergreen circuit on the schedule.
Circuit of the Americas, or COTA, was proposed as a purpose built track in 2010, with constuction following such that it was able to open just two years later in 2012. The first lap of the track was driven by Mario Andretti in a Lotus 79. This was the car he drove to win the World Drivers’ Championship in 1978.
The SBMRL first drove here in 2015. Jaap Snellrijder won the inaugural race, and after winning in 2019 became the only driver to win it twice. Mater, Launch Bornado, and The Stig all won here as well. Given that Launch was a member of Force Ravenswood at the time, it means that four different teams have had representatives stand on the top step of the podium.
COTA has a relatively short pit straight that leads up a steep incline into a sharp left hander. Turn 2 follows in quick succession back to the right, at which point the track gets into a rather fun for the drivers bit of squiggles. This section is trickier than it looks and the transition from the first to second sector occurs between turns 3 and 4.
The second sector leads off with the latter half of those squiggles, followed by a lengthier bit of straight. This straight is key as Turn 5 at the end of it leads into the long back straight. If cars hit turn 5 right they can really fly down the straight and gain a big advantage, but they’ll have to get the braking right into Turn 6. Unlike Turn 5, Turn 6 is quite forgiving of mistakes as Turn 7 represents a huge slow down that means this isn’t a bad area to take risks in.
The third sector is the one that looks the easiest at a glance but can make or break a lap. Turns 8, 9, and 10 aren’t ones where drivers can relax. If they’re hit in rhythm, the start/finish straight will be a welcoming chance to open up the throttle again. If not, that straight will have to be hit at speed to get things back on track.
Starting Grid
With one race in the books for the season, the starting grid for Austin will simply be the reverse of the finish in Portland.
- Parker Lacroix (SB)
- Orzo Albies (MnS)
- Max (SM)
- Mai “Cashew” Maghur (FP)
- Felix (SM)
- Ramen Acuna Jr (MnS)
- Liu S. Amil X (FP)
- Stoot van Vaart (RM)
- Magnus Rasksen (SB)
- Pieter Pieperpoes (RM)
Pit selection will be in order of team standings.
- Regency Motors
- Scandinavian Blitz
- Fir Splays
- Switch Motorsports
- Mac ‘N Speed