• United States Grand Prix

Rossi hopes Austin delivers

Alexander Rossi drove for Caterham in the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test but will not get a run in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• United States Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Alexander Rossi

• Teams:
• Caterham

Caterham test driver Alexander Rossi believes the United States Grand Prix will become a permanent feature in Austin, but admits he hopes the race lives up to expectations.

The race at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend is gaining much coverage as Formula One returns to the United States for the first time since 2007. As the only American driver with links to a Formula One team at present, Rossi was hoping to get a Friday practice drive for Caterham but the team has opted to give its race drivers maximum track time.

Despite that disappointment, Rossi says he is "very excited" for the race but hopes it lives up to the sport's expectations.

"I'm very excited," Rossi told ESPN exclusively. "Obviously there are a lot of American feelings towards it but at the end of the day it's an amazing racetrack. I think everyone will really enjoy going there and I think it's great for F1 to kind of get a true taste of America because it's Texas - it doesn't get much more real than that!

"I think it will be very cool and it'll be a great experience for everyone. I know the paddock's looking forward to it; I just hope that the event as a whole can deliver on everyone's expectations."

When asked if he thought the race would be a success and have a future in Austin, Rossi replied: "It's one of those things, but I do.

"I think that the support behind it in terms of COTA is massive. Whether or not the American fanbase is behind it or not is a massive unknown. I think having NBC now in charge of the TV broadcast and not having it on an exclusive channel like Speed; having it open to the general public on regular cable television I think is a massive step forward. Having a race is another tick in the box, just waiting for the driver now!"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.