First lap of paving complete in Austin

Progress at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas - venue for November’s 2012 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix - has reached another milestone.

Last week saw construction crews lay the final piece of base course and complete the entire first layer of pavement around the 5.516-kilometre track, the first purpose-built Formula One facility in the USA.

This process is referred to as ‘marrying the track’ and took place from Turn 20, through the starting grid and up the hill to Turn 1.

About three metres of Central Texas clay was excavated the entire length of the circuit. A black poly material 30 millimetres in thickness was then placed along the length of the excavated portion. This material acts as an envelope for layers of select fill to be placed so that it remains exactly in place.

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