| Tavo Hellmund, who is a former racecar driver, has | | | | Tavo also has long had connections with Austin |
| been receiving a significant amount of attention in | | | | politicians. When he was a child, former comptroller |
| Austin as well as around the world as of late. Why? | | | | Carole Keeton Strayhorn was his babysitter. He spent |
| Until now, Hellmund was a relative unknown, even to | | | | so much time at Strayhorn's home that he was |
| those who live in Austin, where the promoter has lived | | | | considered to be part of the family. After his mother |
| the majority of his life. But, thanks to the role he is | | | | became sick, however, Tavo and the rest of the |
| playing in bringing F1 racing to Austin, he has now | | | | family lived in Mexico for three years while attending |
| become somewhat of a household name. | | | | the American School Foundation. At the same time, his |
| Clearly, Hellmund was quite serious about bringing F1 | | | | father was bringing auto racing to Mexico. |
| racing to Austin, as wealthy care enthusiasts were | | | | At a younger age, Tavo wasn't interested in being |
| reportedly still expressing an interest in getting in on the | | | | behind the scenes like his father. Rather, he got behind |
| deal even after he had completed his investment | | | | the wheel with the ultimate goal being to race in F1. |
| group. According to rumors, Hellmund was receiving | | | | The financing needed to back his racing career never |
| backing from foreign investors, though F1 boss Bernie | | | | materialized, however, and, despite respectable finishes |
| Ecclestone denied these rumors and maintained that all | | | | in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, a string of bad luck |
| investors were from the United States. | | | | prevented him from finishing the races he had entered. |
| But, the question still begs to be answered: who is | | | | Eventually, Hellmund turned his attention to promoting |
| Tavo Hellmund? Although relatively little is still known | | | | rather than racing, including working toward achieving |
| about the promoter, he does come from a line of | | | | his dream of bringing F1 to Austin. |
| promoters. In fact, his father promoted races I Mexico | | | | Now, after making the seemingly impossible happen, |
| City as well as parties for the Championship Auto | | | | Hellmund has one more trick up his sleeve that is left |
| Racing Team series. Tavo, on the other hand, is just | | | | to be accomplished - getting the new track |
| as dedicated to racing as he is to the city of Austin. In | | | | constructed before the 2012 deadline. Despite the |
| fact, the University of Texas football fan has fond | | | | doubting demeanor of critics, Ecclestone seems |
| memories of watching games within the stadium as | | | | confident Hellmund can make it happen. |
| well as attending the school for two years. | | | | |