The Austrian Grand Prix returns to Austria and the Red Bull Ring. The circuit has had a revamp from Red Bull and Red Bull Racing will naturally be hoping they can get a win on home soil after gaining top step in Azerbaijan.
The “Ring” has seen many configurations of the track, mainly to slow the cars down, as speeds of up to 256 km/h for a lap average have been recorded previously. That’s “average” not outright top speed which is well over 300 km/h.
The current history is interesting. Grandstands and pit buildings were demolished in 2004, rendering the track unusable for any motorsport category. Then in late 2004 and early 2005, there were intense discussions concerning whether the owner of the circuit, Red Bull, would find another use for the site, or return motor sports to the venue. There was a circuit extension proposal using part of the old Österreichring; however, Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz publicly announced that he had no intention of wasting money on a race circuit.
Despite what he had avowed before, late in 2008, Red Bull began their €70m reconstruction of the track.
With the reconstruction, the Red Bull Ring has hosted the DTM Series, F2 and also the FIA Historic Formula One Championship.
In July 2013, Red Bull announced that the Austrian Grand Prix would return as a round of the Formula One World Championship in 2014. This was confirmed on 4 December 2013 when the 2014 Formula One schedule was released and included the Austrian Grand Prix which was held on 22 June 2014.
The telecast of this year’s race begins at 7 p.m. Thai time and we will be watching in front of the big screen at Jameson’s Irish Pub (Soi AR) and we get there around 6 p.m. for something to eat and a convivial drink or two before the race starts. Come in a koala suit and barrack for another win for Ricciardo and I’ll get Kim Fletcher to buy you a beer or a eucalyptus leaf or something.
