North Carolina is examining whether Formula 1 could become part of the state’s future motorsport strategy, raising the possibility of a fourth Grand Prix in the United States. The idea forms part of a new $400,000 study assessing North Carolina’s racing industry, its economic potential and opportunities to attract major events beyond its traditional NASCAR stronghold.
The initiative comes as Formula 1 continues to enjoy significant interest across the United States and internationally. North Carolina is looking to consolidate and expand its position as one of America’s leading motorsport centres, building on the extensive NASCAR infrastructure, technical expertise and racing businesses concentrated around Charlotte.
North Carolina Formula 1 race considered in major motorsport study
The state government has allocated $400,000 to Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting to carry out a comprehensive assessment of North Carolina’s motorsport sector. It will be the first major update of its kind since 2004, when the report titled Motorsports — A North Carolina Growth Industry Under Threat was produced. The funding and April 2027 reporting deadline are included in North Carolina’s latest motorsport review.
The new study will assess both the current condition and the economic potential of the industry. Its remit includes opportunities to attract professional, amateur and club-level racing events, while also examining motorsport research and development, manufacturing and testing facilities. Charlotte Motor Speedway will form part of the assessment.
Working alongside the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the consulting group must submit its findings to the relevant legislative oversight committees and the Fiscal Research Division by April 15, 2027. The review is therefore much broader than Formula 1 alone, but the possibility of bringing the championship to the state has already attracted attention.
State Representative Jay Adams sees potential for Formula 1
North Carolina State Representative Jay Adams believes the state could become a potential future location for a Formula 1 race. The idea began to take shape after a friend in Catawba County assembled approximately 1,200 acres of land north of Charlotte, an area Jay Adams believes could offer possibilities for a racing venue.
The interest illustrates how some state legislators are considering ways to expand North Carolina’s motorsport economy beyond its traditional NASCAR base. Existing infrastructure, specialist engineering knowledge and the availability of suitable land could all become relevant factors if the state ultimately decides to pursue higher-profile international motorsport events.
At this stage, however, there is no confirmed Formula 1 Grand Prix project or agreement. The state-funded exercise is an economic and strategic review examining the wider motorsport industry and possible future expansion, with Formula 1 representing one potential opportunity rather than a guaranteed outcome.
North Carolina already has deep links to American motorsport
Motorsport represents an important component of North Carolina’s economy, with a particularly large concentration of NASCAR teams and associated companies in Charlotte and the surrounding area. The region is also home to organisations and facilities involved in several other racing categories, creating an established network of engineering, manufacturing and motorsport expertise.
Formula 1-related investment is already strengthening those connections. General Motors operates its Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, where work supports Chevrolet and Cadillac racing programmes. The wider Cadillac Formula 1 project has also increased the championship’s links with the region as General Motors develops its future power unit operation. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} ScuderiaFans has previously examined Cadillac’s major American investment as it enters Formula 1.
The new economic study is designed to quantify these effects more accurately and identify strategies that could strengthen North Carolina’s competitive position. That includes attracting prominent events while developing further opportunities in research, production, testing and other motorsport-related activities.
Could Formula 1 eventually have four Grands Prix in the United States?
The prospect is particularly notable because the United States already hosts three Formula 1 Grands Prix. Miami, Austin and Las Vegas are all part of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, reflecting how significantly the championship’s American presence has expanded in recent years.
Austin remains the home of the traditional United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, with the venue’s current agreement extending through 2034. Fans can find full details in the ScuderiaFans United States Grand Prix and COTA guide.
North Carolina entering the discussion therefore raises the possibility that Formula 1 could eventually increase its American schedule from three races to four. For now, that remains only a potential long-term scenario. The immediate objective is to understand the scale and future opportunities of North Carolina’s motorsport industry, with the completed study expected to provide a clearer picture by April 2027.
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