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800-acre motorsports and entertainment destination for automotive enthusiasts in the heart of Tennessee takes an important step forward with the start of all-important track paving
Westel, Tennessee (August 22nd, 2023) – Flatrock Motorsports Park & Motorclubhas begun the first phase of an intensive paving process for the world-class racing facility and members club currently being built 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.
A Motorclub Like No Other
Flatrock Motorclub – set within an 800-acre motorsports and entertainment destination – is planning to open its doors to members in the fall of 2023. It has been designed by world-renowned architects, Tilke GmbH, who have been responsible for delivering multiple state-of-the-art Formula 1 tracks, including Austin’s Circuit of The Americas, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and the upcoming Las Vegas F1 street circuit.
The Club track at Flatrock is an extraordinary 3.50-mile circuit that offers a remarkable elevation change of 127 feet. In simulations conducted with a GT3 car, it has demonstrated an impressive average speed of 101mph, surpassing the averages observed on renowned international circuits, which typically range from 90 to 95 mph. This track is destined to be a haven for automotive enthusiasts who seek an unmatched experience of luxury and refinement on an off the track.
Future phases of the project will introduce an exciting addition to Flatrock: a 2.67-mile competition Grand Prix track that will complement the existing 3.50-mile private Club track exclusive to Motorclub members. These two tracks can be seamlessly combined to form a thrilling 5.9-mile, 34-turn circuit that winds its way through the breathtaking and picturesque Tennessee countryside, with its captivating mountains and rolling landscapes. This extended circuit promises an exhilarating experience for drivers and a truly unforgettable setting for motorsports enthusiasts.
Flatrock Motorclub is easily accessible, less than a day’s drive from 75 percent of the US population. For Club members with private aircraft, Rockwood Municipal Airport is less than two miles away, while Knoxville’s commercial airport is less than an hour’s drive, approximately 50 miles away.
Flatrock’s Motorclub members will enjoy a state of the art paddock, event pavilion, luxurious clubhouse with an, restaurant, lounge, and day spa, luxury paddock garages with rooftop viewing, track side villas, a multipurpose pit building with race control, meeting spaces, and more. Along with the Motorclub track and campus, Flatrock has plans to introduce a CIK Karting Track, further enhancing the motorsport offerings to its members as well as the local community.
As Flatrock continues to evolve, future phases of the park will bring forth an array of exciting additions and amenities. These include a landmark hotel and a destination restaurant, offering luxurious accommodations and exquisite dining experiences for visitors. Additionally, there are plans to develop campgrounds for those seeking a closer connection with nature, as well as a brewery and winery for enthusiasts of craft beverages. Further lodging options will be introduced to accommodate the growing number of guests, and a retail center will provide a diverse range of offerings for visitors to enjoy. Furthermore, a natural amphitheatre constructed with stunning Crab Orchard stone will serve as a captivating venue for major motorsport races, live concerts, and a variety of special events throughout the year. With these future developments, Flatrock aims to create an all-encompassing motorsports and entertainment destination.
Construction on the facility has been ongoing since last Fall with today’s news signifying an important milestone on the exciting journey towards the project’s completion.
Paving the Way Forward
The paving process is being overseen by the globally renowned pavement engineering specialists, Transtec Group, and will see three layers of asphalt laid across America’s 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 by the Rogers Group.
Critical attention to detail is required to guarantee that this vital part of the circuit’s development is successful. Multiple specification controls for both materials and construction quality intended to mitigate the risk of ravelling have been carried out to ensure the finished surface can endure the wear and tear caused by high performance race cars driving at high speeds.
Furthermore, 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.
Rusty Bittle, Developer and Founding Partner of Flatrock Motorsports Park commented on the commencement of the paving process: “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. 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 tracks 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.”
