The Baltimore Grand Prix is creating a spectacular “festival of speed” between Friday and Sunday along a two-mile temporary street circuit in the heart of the city of Baltimore in Maryland, USA.

It is estimated that this Indycar racing event will generate from $60 to $100 million into the economy of the city through the race organisers, the track construction, and the thousands of followers of the sports who will visit from the region and beyond.

While around 100,000 visitors are expected to spend a long weekend to watch the Grand Prix and its supporting races, most of the teams, drivers, mechanics, and other race staff will be spending a whole week in the city.

Baltimore is known as one of the most important shipping ports on the Atlantic side of the United States, and it has its own airport. The scenic inner harbour area is a tourist attraction in it own right, and the Camden Yards – also known as the Oriole Park stadium - are very popular among the American baseball fans who follow the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.

Martyn Thake, who is responsible for the construction of the temporary street circuit has purposely designed the layout of the track to pass by both the inner Harbour and Camden Yards. The Baltimore Grand Prix is going to be the best advertisement for the City of Baltimore during the time this fabulous street circuit is featured on TV for all the world to see.

Racing around the city streets at about 180 miles per hour and dealing with 12 different corners and a chicane is not a joke, so more than 2,200 concrete wall segments 12-feet long by 39-inches high will line the perimeter inside and outside the race circuit. Each of these wall segments weighs approximately 9,300 pounds, so a total weight of about 20 million pounds will be moved to render the circuit safe for both drivers and spectators.

650 tyre pallets each consisting of 25 bundled interlocking tyres will be strategically located around the corners of the circuit to cushion any contact with the concrete wall.

A 2-mile long debris fence will be constructed on top of the concrete wall, and an additional fence is being built behind the race walls to create what is known as a “no man’s land” restricted area between the spectator area and the racing circuit. Grandstands, hospitality tents and patios, and pedestrian bridges are also being constructed.

In the absence of a permanent racing circuit, if Malta wishes to organise a real Grand Prix, not just a sprint, it will have to do all this. There is no cheap way of promoting this form of sport, but then the returns will be a lot greater. Shall we ever see a Minister of Foreign Affairs give the starting signal to a real Malta Grand Prix?

Family fun

For the race weekend a whole list of popular bands, concerts, DJs and other acts have been scheduled to provide continuous entertainment at this family-friendly event. On Friday and Saturday there will be live music between noon and 10pm.

An Action Sports Zone, a Party Zone and a Family Fun Zone are being set up. A 5K run open to all ages and ability levels using the two-mile circuit itself will add to the fun. Runners rarely use a racing circuit as part of their run, so this is likely to be a new experience!

The motor sport followers will have plenty of action to watch between Friday and Sunday because in addition to the Indycar series event and practice, there will be the American Le Mans Series race and practice, and the supporting races and practice of the Star Mazda, the Indy Lights and the F2000 formulae racing cars. The most popular drivers in these series will of course be taking part and signing autographs in the paddock or garage area.

The neighbours who will be inconvenienced by this event are also being compensated with an immediate benefit through what is known as a Community Mitigation Fund of $100,000. With this contribution the streetscape is being enhanced in addition to other beautification projects that will be enjoyed during the whole year.

The vision for the Baltimore Grand Prix is to be carbon neutral with zero net waste by 2015. The city of Baltimore is trying to promote the “greenest Grand Prix ever.” All the waste that cannot be re-cycled, is going to be collected and converted into energy.

The Indycar Honda engines will run on Sunoco 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol – an environmentally friendly alternative fuel, while the majority of the American Le Mans Series racing cars run on bio-fuels.

The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix promises to be an exciting event for the 100,000 visitors that are expected to converge on the city for this spectacle. Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell has been named the official Grand Marshal of the event and he will be conducting the opening ceremonies.

He will pronounce the famous words “Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines”. Hopefully, the weather will be kind and the main event will not have to be postponed to Monday.