Austrian Grand Prix to return to F1 calendar in 2014

It has been reported by German language website motorsport-total.com that the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria (formerly A1 Ring) will host a round of the F 1 World Championship from 2014.

Citing a press release issued by the Austrian Energy Drinks manufacturer, the website reported that Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz and F1 commercial rights holder had agreed to a deal.

Previously, in 2012, when the F1 race in New Jersey had been dropped from this year's calendar, Mateschitz had publicly offered the Red Bull Ring as an alternative venue.

The race is scheduled to be run on July 6 pending all the required safety and procedural checks for the event to run.

In the guise of the A1 Ring, the track last hosted an F1 race in 2003, which was won by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari.

The track used to be known as the Osterreichring and throughout the early 1970s and 1980s was one of the fastest tracks on the calendar along with Monza and Silverstone.

Red Bull was involved in promotion for both the Indian and United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas as well as for the planned New Jersey street race.

It is believed that Mateschitz had wanted to host a round at the Red Bull Ring as well but could not find a window on the increasingly crowded F1 calendar.