The Haas F1 Team and Austin, Texas-based Circuit of the Americas have taken to social media over the weekend to promote the upcoming U.S. Grand Prix. The race in late October will not only mark COTA's fifth anniversary on the F1 calendar, but also the first home grand prix of an American-led team in 30 years after Haas F1 joined the grid this season. The racetrack and the North Carolina-based team previously teamed up for small promotional activities such as giving away 500 special-edition COTA/Haas F1 hats to people who purchased a three-day pass for last year's running of the USGP. This time Haas F1 and COTA created a social-media contest that will provide the winner with two tickets for the event in Texas' state capital.
To participate, fans have to submit a video of themselves animating a lap on the 5.5km track via Twitter using the hashtag . Haas F1 CMO Adam Jacobs previously told SBD Global that the team is working with COTA and NBC Sports, F1's U.S. broadcast partner, to promote the sport in the country. Jacobs did not disclose details, but it is expected that Haas F1 will take advantage of its first home race to connect with fans and commercial partners.
The track itself "will not do anything particularly special" to welcome Haas F1, COTA CEO Bobby Epstein said. COTA, however, expects to benefit from the exposure provided by the team's U.S. debut, and also hopes to attract some fans of Haas F1's sister team, NASCAR squad Stewart-Haas Racing. "We are excited to have them and the fact that they bring exposure to a whole lot of new fans in that they have been very successful in NASCAR," Epstein said. "We think it gives the opportunity for those folks to tune in and see what it is that Haas is so excited to be a part of." The contest came to an end at 8:21pm EST on Sunday night. The 2016 U.S. F1 Grand Prix is scheduled for Oct. 21-23.
