Plans unveiled for new Formula 1 circuit in Offaly with unique features

Plans have been unveiled for a brand new state of the art Formula 1 circuit in Offaly. With the success of Offaly driver Alex Dunne in recent years, the group behind the project is hoping that the hugely talented driver will be able to take part in a Grand Prix in his home county in the coming years.

While the plans for a track have now been made public on April 1, secrecy surrounds the exact location of the planned track but one of the organisers is believed to know a lad who might have a few hundreds acres to sell at a good price.

A unique feature of the track will be massive potholes right in the middle of corners.

According to the man behind the project, Max Speed, this will add a sense of authenticity to the racing.

“We couldn't have an F1 track in Offaly without potholes. These are the best drivers in the world. They should be able to deal with what the average driver in Offaly deals with every day. And they have pit crews there to deal with the damage. They won't have to wait for hours for a tow truck to come when their suspension is hanging off after hitting a giant one.”

Plans are also in place for an automatic slurry spreader at the Shane Lowry chicane. At random times during the race, this will be switched on leaving the track surface in a very slippery state. Big lumps of mud from tractor wheels will be added to the mix.

Max Speed commented, “again this is the kind of thing you have to deal with on every back road in Offaly. The drivers are lucky we are not putting cattle on the track altogether that they just come across after the Seamus Darby corner. We thought about it but that might have been a step too far.”

Unlike every other track on the F1 circuit, there will also be no yellow flags to warn drivers of incidents on the track.

“There's no flags on the roads in Offaly so why should we have them in a race. The first warning you get of a pothole around here is when you hit it. If they are lucky, there might be a farmer at the side of the track waving their arms telling them to slow down but outside of that, they are on their own.”

Blue flags to make slower drivers get out of the way so the faster car behind can overtake will also not be used.

“We are going for a proper Offaly driving experience. It's not too often a slow moving car would get out of your way out there, particularly on a Sunday, so it won't happen on our track”

One problem the organisers could face is checking the road worthiness of the cars taking to the track.

Max Speed stated, “a lad in the Department of Transport told us the F1 cars would need an NCT before they raced. Sure we'd be feiced then. They'd never get a test in time. They'd be here for months before they could race.”

When asked what the plans would be for the track for the rest of the year, Max Speed said there were other events planned.

“We could host tractor racing every weekend and wouldn't it be a great spot for girl and boy racers to come at the weekend in their 50 horse power and 200 decibel cars. Better than have them tearing around the Slieve Blooms terrorising the deer all weekend.”

Planning permission could also be an issue. As Max Speed explained, "we were chatting some lad in the council and they said we might have to paint the track green to blend in with the surrounding areas. That's madder than like when they tell people what colour slates they can or can't have on their houses that cost them a small fortune to buy or build!”