Formula One Arcade races into DMV

WASHINGTON — Formula One is trying to make a name for itself in the United States, expanding its racing simulator arcade to D.C., with an opening scheduled for Sunday. 

The Formula One Arcade will be inside Union Market District, at 440 Penn St. NE. The new venue will be Formula One Arcade's second location in the United States, after a simulator opened in Boston earlier this year. 

"In addition to the communal spaces, high-end private rooms -- equipped with a private bar and 16 simulators -- can be combined to accommodate 130 guests," Formula One Arcade said on Tuesday. 

On their website, Formula One Arcade says a 30-minute session costs between $22 and $31, depending on whether the simulator is in its peak season. A 45-minute session costs between $32 and $42. 

Jon Gardner, the US President of F1 Arcade said that DC's international reputation was a natural fit for Formula One, whose largest fan base has been historically outside of United States. 

"DC is such an international market, it's so full of the arts and culture," Gardner said Tuesday. "Also, our nation's capital. It doesn't get much better than that." 

In recent years, interest in Formula One has become less of an international phenomena. 23-year-old driver Logan Sergeant, from Florida, is one of Formula One's latest stars.

"Formula 1: Drive to Survive" a Netflix docuseries that has been looking at the sport for six seasons since 2019 has been a hit in the United States, according to the streaming site's internal data.