Lifeline extended for A1-Ring?
Plans to rebuild the A1-Ring as a multi-purpose sports centre may not be dead in the water, according to reports in Autosport magazine.
Work to extend the circuit had been abruptly halted in December when the Austrian environmental senate said the project fell foul of noise and pollution regulations.
But now the Austrian government has formed a task force to save the Red Bull-Ring Leisure Destination plans, in order to protect jobs brought to the region by the scheme.
The circuit in the Styrian mountains closed last year for its £485 million revamp after being bought by Red Bull drinks magnate Dietrich Mateschitz. The plans envisage bringing the circuit 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 older Österreichring course in the Westschleife extension, including the former Dr Tiroch Kurve, with the extension capable of being run separately to the existing course.
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