FanAmp Fan Takes - COTA 2023

Neha - Second time COTA attendee, avid race-goer

One piece of advice for people traveling

Bring a tote bag to bring your track essentials in so you can carry more with you! There are a million things that can be useful on the track (phone charger, portable fan, snacks, water etc….) bring something that can hold them all!

One thing that surprised you

The track is so dusty!! Just walking around everywhere on track, you will collect all the dust. My shoes were absolutely covered in dust and I was definitely inhaling a ton of it.

One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without

Phone charger!!! Track days can be long and if you plan on taking pictures of all the cars, you’re going to need it! Also a hat! It’s generally going to be hot every year at COTA. There are very few shaded areas so sun protection is a must.

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Fiona - First time COTA attendee, 2nd F1 race

One piece of advice for people traveling

Have a go-to packing list of your essentials you’ll always need. You’ll probably always forget things if you just try to remember them (I know I did).

One thing that surprised you

The track is absolutely massive. Your very cute cowboy boots are not made for walking. Wear comfy shoes, please.

One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without

Sunscreen. Imagine burnt toast vs lightly toasted bread. Choose your fighter.

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Rob - First time COTA attendee, long-time F1 fan

One piece of advice for people traveling

Be prepared ahead of time as much as possible. Whether that’s through leveraging FanAmp’s ‘Know Before you Go’ segment on YouTube, speaking to people who have been before, or doing your own independent research on track vantage points (if your ticket is GA), travel to/from the circuit etc… means the weekend is as seamless as possible.

One thing that surprised you

The heat in Texas - even in October. Wear sunscreen, protective clothing if possible, seek out shade, and stay hydrated!

One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without

A positive attitude! It’s very easy to get frustrated with travel delays, the heat, the number of people but at the end of the day you’re there for a Grand Prix. It’s super special and not many people around the world are fortunate enough to attend. It makes me very grateful that I have the opportunity to watch the 20 best drivers in the world go head to head on the race track!

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Priscilla - First time COTA attendee, new F1 fan, Austin Local

One thing that surprised you

I’ve never been to an F1 race before, or really watched F1. This was my very first experience and was blown away by how much there was to do at the track. There isn’t just racing, there are a million other things to do like carnival rides, meet-ups, activities like cornhole, and concerts throughout the entire day!

One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without

My phone charger and my beauty blender. The days are long. The days are VERY HOT. You obviously need your phone for the day - to contact friends, take pictures and for safety AND if you want your makeup to last all day, bring something to touch it up!

One piece of advice for Austin locals going to the race

Take the shuttle! You may think that taking your car and paying for parking passes will be the cheapest option… but that is completely false. When you’re driving the amount of traffic that you’ll get stuck in every single day makes this completely not worth driving yourself. The shuttles are quick, have their own designated lanes into and out of the circuit, and have multiple drop off locations in Austin.


Want more information about the FanAmp Team's entire experience at COTA from start to finish? Check out our US Grand Prix Diary or our US Grand Prix Off Track Diary

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