F1 Could Create Americas Series To Fuel U.S. Popularity Of Sport

F1 management is “considering creating an American version of GP2 or GP3 in order to drive popularity of the sport in the U.S.," which this weekend hosts its first F1 race in five years, according to Reid & Sylt of ESPN F1. Company documents show that it has “the working title of the 'Americas Series' and, if given the green light, will feature races in the U.S., Canada and Brazil.” The aim is “to stimulate the development of grassroots motorsports in these countries and generate publicity for F1, so that it eventually attracts more local drivers.” There are “no American drivers currently competing in the sport.” F1 documents show that “management believes that it will eventually be able to develop its business in North and South America to a level comparable with that in its traditional European base.” A GP2 Asia winter series “was launched in '08, but its last season was in '11.” Since GP2 launched in ‘05 it “has been a major success story in producing F1 talent” (ESPNF1.com, 11/12).