COTA boss adamant closure won’t impact US GP

The venue has been badly hit by coronavirus precautions, including tightened restrictions on public gatherings – such as the 50-person limit recommended by the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention today (Sunday).

COTA has already had its MotoGP race moved from April 5 to November 15, while its IndyCar race, due to be held on April 26, has been cancelled indefinitely.

Other events, including a Rolling Stones concert on May 24, are now extremely unlikely to go ahead.

In an attempt to cut costs the circuit has let go many employees, and reduced the hours of others.

However Epstein is still confident that the track can still host October’s F1 race, if circumstances regarding the pandemic have changed for the better.

“In the next 90 days alone, events representing nearly 600,000 ticketed visitors have been postponed, cancelled, or are in jeopardy,” Epstein told Motorsport.com.

“The actions taken today have no impact on COTA’s ability to host the Grand Prix.”

In a separate statement the circuit said: “We are heartbroken for our employees (and their families) who spend all year preparing to welcome guests from Austin and all around the globe but now find themselves without work.

“The joy of creating memorable occasions has been replaced with the disappointing reality of a worldwide crisis.

“It is indeed a terrible time in the event and hospitality business. Most of all we hope everyone stays healthy, heeds the caution advised by leaders and experts, and comes back to COTA when good times return.”