WESTEL, Tenn. — Flatrock Motorsports Park has began the first phase of an intensive paving process for the world-class racing facility currently being built in partnership with F-1 track specialists, Tilke GmbH in in Cumberland County, Tennessee.
Work on laying the entry way to America’s newest home for racing began several weeks ago with the track itself now ready for paving.
New images released today show the start of the process of layering the asphalt on the soon-to-be FIA Grade II certified track that is coming to life in the heart of Tennessee. Working with renowned Formula 1 circuit architects Tilke GmbH, the world’s newest motorsport and entertainment destination is scheduled to open in phases beginning in the fall of 2023.
The paving process is being overseen by the globally renowned pavement engineering specialists, Transtec Group, and will see three layers of asphalt laid across the newest racing circuit: base, levelling and surface courses, with a tack coat inserted between each course. The large majority of materials used for this process have been sourced locally in Tennessee.
“This is a major milestone for Flatrock to celebrate as we get closer to the day when our members and partners can drive on our new world class circuit,” Rusty Bittle, Developer and Founding Partner of Flatrock Motorsports Park said. “Great progress has been made in a short space of time and today marks one of the most important stages in our journey to opening day.
“I am thankful to the world-leading team of experts who have worked so hard to ensure that the surface of our Club track will be of the of the highest quality and offer our members a driving experience unlike any other.
“We feel confident in saying that this track will be one of the most challenging and exciting in the world and we look forward to seeing our members’ cars racing across our stunning 3.5-mile, 23-turn Club circuit, set in the most incredible surroundings here in Cumberland County, Tennessee.”
To help accommodate the impact of Tennessee’s changeable climate on the track, the asphalt specification was subject to controls that considered both the temperatures that the track will be subject to, as well as both the rainfall and freeze-thaw environment.
Additionally, great care is being taken by the Flatrock construction team to ensure that this world-class circuit retains the smoothest driving surface possible via site-specific geotechnical engineering investigations performed throughout the paving process.
Flatrock Motorsports Park and Motorclub will be a premium racing facility, combining both a 2.67-mile competition grand prix track and a 3.50-mile private members club track. These two circuits can be combined to create an undulating 5.9-mile, 34-turn circuit situated in beautiful, rolling Tennessee countryside.
Construction on the facility has been ongoing since last fall.