The fascination of Miami street racing
Miami's history as a motorsport street venue has always had a hold on GARY WATKINS. He explains how last weekend's Formula E race added another chapter to the story
I've always had a thing about street circuits, and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it's because they seemed so exotic to a motorsport-mad kid growing up in a country in which we didn't have such things. And then, when we did finally get one, it was in Birmingham of all places.
My love of street and city circuits goes part of the way to explaining my interest in Formula E and why I've volunteered to report on some of the races for AUTOSPORT in this inaugural season. I put my hand up for Miami for various reasons, one of which was a fascination with the history of street racing in the Florida city.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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