The Circuit of the Americas in Austin is preparing to build a second race track as part of a major transformation that will see its existing Formula 1 venue become a private facility from the beginning of 2027. The expansion forms part of an ambitious strategy to turn the home of the United States Grand Prix into a year-round entertainment destination, supported by a Formula 1 contract running until 2034.
At the centre of the project is a new exclusive members’ club operating alongside the existing Grand Prix circuit, while a smaller, more accessible track will be constructed nearby. The changes are designed to attract premium customers without abandoning the local motorsport community, which will lose its traditional access to the main circuit once the new arrangements take effect.
Austin F1 circuit to introduce exclusive private members’ club in 2027
A large multi-storey building has been constructed on the hill overlooking Turn 1 at the Circuit of the Americas. Connected to the main paddock by a cable car running across the circuit, the impressive new facility served as an extension of Formula 1’s Paddock Club during the United States Grand Prix weekend.
From 2 January 2027, however, the building will become the centre of an exclusive members-only club known as The Circuit, marking a significant change in how the Austin venue operates outside its major racing events.
Speaking to The Athletic, Parris Mullins, the circuit’s senior vice-president of motorsports, explained that the membership system differs considerably from a conventional annual subscription.
“It’s much more like a country club. There are annual dues to maintain the facilities and cover staffing, but the initiation fee is a one-time payment that essentially provides a lifetime membership,” Parris Mullins explained.
Interest in the project has already been substantial. Before the Grand Prix weekend, approximately 600 people had contacted the circuit about membership, with more than 50 additional enquiries arriving within a 24-hour period. Individual discussions have already taken place with around 140 prospective members, and many have begun paying deposits and signing contracts.
Membership will be strictly limited to 300 people. Of those places, 250 will be reserved for North American members, while the remaining 50 will be allocated to international and corporate memberships.
The new facilities are closely connected to Formula 1’s expectations for the long-term future of the United States Grand Prix. According to Parris Mullins, improvements to the hospitality experience were an important element of the negotiations that secured Austin’s contract extension through 2034.
“A lot of our contract renewal was dependent on this as well. We needed to improve both the members’ experience and the experience for the Paddock Club guests. F1 has made a big commitment to it. The sport has grown, and certain markets demand these kinds of amenities,” he explained.
Why Circuit of the Americas is planning a second race track
The decision to make the existing Grand Prix circuit private has significant consequences for local drivers and motorsport organisations. Traditional track days and activities organised by regional car clubs will no longer be permitted on the Formula 1 layout under the new access arrangements.
To address this situation, the Circuit of the Americas is developing plans for a second, shorter track on vacant land to the north of the existing facility. The project is already at an advanced design stage and is intended to provide a more affordable alternative for local motorsport enthusiasts.
Unlike the current Circuit of the Americas Grand Prix track, which hosts Formula 1 and other major international racing categories, the new layout will be constructed to FIA Grade 3 standards.
It will be designed for both cars and motorcycles, with the ability to accommodate touring cars, sports cars and entry-level single-seaters. The organisers are also open to hosting smaller racing championships at the facility.
Parris Mullins explained that the second track is primarily intended to support the organisations and individuals who have used the existing circuit since it opened and who will be affected by the transition to private membership.
“A second track will be built, primarily because we recognise that we’re displacing a number of people and organisations that have been partners of ours since the circuit opened,” he said.
“Growing motorsport, particularly in the local area, is very important to us. We’re not going to build another FIA Grade 1 facility because there’s no need for one. Instead, we want to build something that suits the local motorsport community, allows them to continue using a circuit and gives them access at a much lower price point.”
The distinction between the two tracks is important. The existing Grand Prix venue will continue to host major international events and provide exclusive driving opportunities for club members, while the proposed new circuit will focus on accessibility and grassroots motorsport.
Parris Mullins acknowledged that losing the opportunity to drive on the Formula 1 circuit would be disappointing for enthusiasts who value that experience.
“There’s obviously prestige associated with COTA. I know people love being able to say they’ve driven their car on the Grand Prix circuit, and we’re sorry that this won’t always be possible unless they’re members. But we want to give people somewhere they can drive, enjoy motorsport and continue participating at a grassroots level.”
New Austin circuit could feature banked corners and an iconic chicane
Although the layout of the proposed second circuit has already been defined internally, the organisers have not yet revealed it publicly. The intention is to create a track with a distinctly different character from the existing Formula 1 venue rather than simply reproduce a smaller version of the Grand Prix circuit.
Parris Mullins explained that the original Circuit of the Americas was developed primarily around the requirements of a major Formula 1 race weekend. The second venue offers an opportunity to prioritise the type of driving experience enjoyed by local enthusiasts using their own performance cars.
“We want to create something fun with a different personality from the Grand Prix circuit. COTA was built around the requirements of a single major race weekend. I’d like it to have corners we don’t have here,” he explained.
“We don’t have a banked corner, for example, so I think the new circuit should have one. It should also have an iconic chicane. We want features that people can enjoy in the kinds of cars they bring to the track. The layout should suit them much better.”
The proposed banked corner and distinctive chicane therefore represent design ambitions for the new circuit, although its complete configuration has not yet been released.
The organisers have not announced a firm construction timetable or opening date. The remaining stages include finalising the project and completing the necessary procedures with the city of Austin.
Despite those outstanding steps, the circuit’s management wants to progress quickly to avoid leaving regional clubs and drivers without suitable facilities for an extended period.
“We still need to finalise everything and work through the process with the city. We’re far enough along that we’re comfortable saying we want to get it done sooner rather than later,” Parris Mullins explained.
“We don’t want the local motorsport community to go without a facility for too long, but we also need to get the project right.”
COTA expansion aims to make Austin a year-round motorsport destination
The new circuit and exclusive members’ club form part of a much broader transformation at the Circuit of the Americas. Securing the United States Grand Prix until 2034 provides the long-term stability necessary to justify investment in facilities designed to attract visitors beyond the Formula 1 race weekend.
Another important component is COTALAND, the amusement park featuring rollercoasters alongside the third sector of the Grand Prix circuit. The attraction is intended to strengthen Austin’s appeal as an entertainment destination rather than a venue visited only for major motorsport events.
High-profile evening concerts remain part of the Grand Prix experience, while the organisers continue to incorporate Austin’s sporting culture and food scene into their events. The venue already hosts MotoGP and the World Endurance Championship, with Formula E also joining its programme from 2027.
The circuit’s established relationship with different racing categories was also highlighted during the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend, when Formula 1 and MotoGP machinery were brought together at Austin.
The long-term objective is to create a destination capable of attracting visitors and generating revenue throughout the year, with premium hospitality, major racing events, concerts, leisure attractions and accessible motorsport activities supporting one another.
Parris Mullins believes the entertainment experience surrounding Formula 1 is now an essential part of what race organisers must provide.
“Formula 1 provides the on-track action. Our job is to complement that between sessions. At the end of the day, this is sport, but it’s also entertainment. We want to entertain people.”
United States Grand Prix aims to preserve its appeal through 2034
Despite the growing emphasis on exclusive hospitality and premium facilities, the Circuit of the Americas intends to preserve the broader appeal that has made the United States Grand Prix one of Formula 1’s major events.
The Austin race has attracted weekend crowds of up to 440,000 spectators, demonstrating its importance within the championship’s expanding American audience. The venue’s established position on the calendar is also reflected in the scale and organisation of the 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend.
The organisers want the event to retain its identity as a race accessible to a broad audience, even as the surrounding facilities become more exclusive and commercially ambitious.
The proposed second circuit is therefore central to maintaining that balance. While the existing Grand Prix track becomes increasingly focused on elite competition and private membership, the new FIA Grade 3 facility is intended to give local clubs, drivers and smaller championships somewhere to continue participating in motorsport.
With Formula 1 secured until 2034, Austin is preparing for a future built around more than a single Grand Prix weekend. The expansion represents an attempt to combine an exclusive international motorsport destination with continued support for grassroots racing, while turning the Circuit of the Americas into an attraction capable of operating throughout the year.
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