Tavo Hellmund
Carl Tavo Hellmund (born February 24, 1966 in Austin, TX), is a American former racing driver and Midget car racing promoter. [1]
Hellmund's father, Gustavo Hellmund-Rosas, was a racing promoter as well, having promoted the Gran Premio de México in 1980 and 1981. Tavo, a native of Austin, Texas, competed in the British Formula Three Championship in 1995 and 1996[2] and won races in FIA, K&N Pro Series West and SCCA sanctioned events, including the K&N Pro Series West race at Laguna Seca in 2001.[3] As a promoter, he has been involved with USAC National Midge Series.
His relationship with Bernie Ecclestone (CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration) has spanned nearly 40 years, knowing him as a young boy. However, the relationship is questionable today as a result of Bernie Ecclestone rescinding a contract signed by the two men after Hellmund was found in breach of that contract. [4]
In July 2010, Hellmund announced he had signed a deal with Formula One in April to return the United States Grand Prix to the F1 schedule in 2012. Hellmund's investors, including Red McCombs and Bobby Epstein of Prophet Capital are building a new track outside of Austin, Texas that is being engineered by Herman Tilke and Peter Wahl. The investors' track will have significant elevation changes and be a more traditional grand prix track [5] as opposed to the characteristically wide and flat curves featured on other modern Tilke tracks.[6]
In June 2011, it was reported that Hellmund was in breach of his contract with Formula One Management [7]. Before Hellmund was found in breach and his contract with Formula One Management was rescinded, there were media reports stating Hellmund was offered a $39 million buyout. [8] Hellmund never denied this, he merely sidesteped the claim. [9]
On December 7, 2011 a new deal was agreed to between Bernie Ecclestone (CEO of Formula One Management, Red McCombs and Bobby Epstein. [10]
Hellmund has no role with Formula 1 United States[11], Formula 1 United States Grand Prix or Circuit of the Americas[12]. His claim of having a title with United States Grand Prix is false; the entity does not exist.
References
- ^ http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-f1-promoter-has-globe-guessing-779413.html?printArticle=y
- ^ Tavo Hellmund, Driver Database, Retrieved 2010-08-22
- ^ Tavo (CT) Hellmund, Racing West, Retrieved 2010-08-22
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2062325/United-States-F1-Grand-Prix-set-dropped--Bernie-Ecclestone.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
- ^ [1], "Formula 1", Retrieved 2010-09-01
- ^ [2], "The Sport Review", Retrieved 2010-8-12
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2062325/United-States-F1-Grand-Prix-set-dropped--Bernie-Ecclestone.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
- ^ http://www.racintoday.com/archives/31639
- ^ http://www.racintoday.com/archives/31639
- ^ http://articles.boston.com/2011-12-07/sports/30486854_1_texas-race-bernie-ecclestone-jenson-button
- ^ www.formula1unitedstates.com
- ^ http://circuitoftheamericas.com/team