F1-style racetrack planned in Atlantic City

Article posted by Coliseum, May 16^th, 2023

Image: Deem Enterprises LLC

Formula 1 Grand Prix in Atlantic City, New Jersey (US) is a possibility after the developer’s plan was unanimously approved by the City Council in late-March. The $2.7 billion facility would include a Formula 1 Grand Prix-style 2.5-mile racetrack, hundreds of condominiums and a shopping complex, which would be built on the former site of Bader Field, the old Atlantic City Municipal Airport.

‘Hemmings’ stated that the facility will be developed by DEEM Enterprises, LLC. (develop smart and sustainable real estate developments) Michael Binder, the developer’s representative, told Atlantic City’s Chamber of Commerce that the track was designed by “the world’s foremost designer from Spain”. The project, which would also involve landfilling portions of the City’s back bay and converting the former airfield into a racetrack, could take six to nine years to complete.

London (UK)-based Formula One is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the premier forms of racing around the world since its inaugural season in 1950.

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Paris (France)-based the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is an association established on June 20^th, 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organizations and motor car users. It is the governing body for many auto racing events, including Formula One. The FIA also promotes road safety around the world.

‘Hemmings’ further stated that the redevelopment of Bader Field has been in discussion since the airport closed in 2006. Currently, a 5,500-seat baseball stadium occupies a small portion of the site. Motorsports events have already been held at the Bader Field space, including a round of the Global Rallycross Championship in 2016 and autocross events hosted by the area’s Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) chapter.

The TitansRX International Series (formerly known as the Red Bull Global Rallycross or Global Rallycross) is a group of rallycross series, currently organized by racing driver Max Pucher and businessman Chip Pankow. The initial series was a series run in North America in 2011 and ran for seven seasons until the series folded in 2018, where the series was replaced by the Americas Rallycross Championship. In late 2018, Max Pucher revived the brand and set up the series Titans-RX Europe, starting in 2019 and the International Series planned to start in 2021. The 2020 campaign was scaled back to a one-make single race in March before resuming in 2021.

Topeka (US)-based the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non- profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.

The developer’s ambitious plans include the Formula 1-spec 2.5-mile track, over 1,000 housing units, 234,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and numerous parking garages to handle large crowds. DEEM Enterprises reassured the local residents that the track noise won’t be bothersome because mostly electric cars will race there.

In 2011, a similar project was announced in Weehawken, New Jersey, near the famed New York City, but was canceled due to unforeseen financial and contractual issues. Whether the project will come to fruition is anyone’s best guess, but one certainly hopes that racing fans will have the opportunity to witness an Atlantic City Grand Prix. It would be worth the wait.

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