F1 events start off with a touch of Hollywood

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The events leading up to Austin's first Formula One weekend kicked into high gear on Thursday at a downton luncheon attended by Gov. Rick Perry, Mayor Leffingwell, and Oscar-nominated director Ron Howard.

The Grand Prix weekend is begin Nov 16-18 at the new Circuit of The Americas facility in eastern Travis County, which also has has been selected to hold races from 2012 to 2021.

“The U.S. Grand Prix will bring 1.2 million visitors to Central Texas, and is an opportunity to demonstrate to people from around the world everything we have to offer in the Lone Star State as a tourism destination, and as a place to live and work,” Perry said.

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“This event is adding to our state’s profile worldwide, and represents a valuable opportunity to tell the Texas story to a whole new group of race fans and decision makers from all around the world.”

The  events are expected to attract about 1.2 million visitors annually to the Austin area. Total spending on the track in 2012 has reached up to $500 million, according to estimates.

An important factor of the economic development in Texas is attributed to tourism, and the numbers of tourists are expected to rise with the opening of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Howard spoke briefly about his love for Austin and his enthusiasm towards the opening of the track.

"Every time I come here you know, my only regret so far in my career I haven't been able to make an entire film in Austin" said Howard. "I just want a reason to come here and to live."