A1-Ring revamp plan killed off
Work to extend the A1-Ring in Austria has been halted after a campaign by nearby residents.
The circuit in the Styrian mountains closed last year for a £485 million revamp after being bought by Red Bull drinks magnate Dietrich Mateschitz. The plans would have seen the circuit brought back up to full F1 standard, as well as adding facilities for a race school, auto museum, hotel and a home for Mateschitz's aircraft collection.
Track designers had incorporated part of the longer Österreichring course in the new Westschleife extension, including the old Dr Tiroch Kurve, with the extension capable of being run separately to the existing course.
But the scheme appears dead in the water after Austria's Environmental Senate blocked the proposals. Mateschitz says the decision was a surprise as he had been persuaded by the local government to take on the project to help unemployment in the area.
'Project Spielberg' had been given the backing of the Styrian regional government as ate as July this year.
"We were asked to do something, and that has now been rejected," he told Austrian newspaper Keine Zeitung. "For us, the project is now settled, over. There is no point continuing. We didn't force ourselves upon them, but we gave careful consideration to what we were asked to do. We offered everything within our capability to achieve that, but [our plans] have been rejected."
Mateschitz also insisted that there was no revised plan up his sleeve.
"Why would we need a race track where no cars would ever race?" he asked, "If there is no interest in a race track, then there is no second project for us to submit."
What this now means for the future of the existing circuit is unclear. Currently it remains closed and is not scheduled to host any racing or testing.
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