COTA unveils record-setting giant cowboy hat before US Grand Prix

COTA giant cowboy hat is now part of the view at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, where the racetrack and local Western-wear brand Tecovas have unveiled a giant replica of the company’s Cattleman Cowboy Hat ahead of the Formula One United States Grand Prix.

Guinness World Records examined the installation on Monday and confirmed it as the world’s largest fiberglass sculpture of a hat, UPI reported. The distinction matters: the available reporting supports the fiberglass-sculpture record, rather than a claim that it is the largest cowboy hat of every kind.

How big is the giant cowboy hat at COTA?

The structure is 43 feet wide, 47 feet long and 17 feet tall, according to UPI and CBS Austin. CBS Austin reported that the height does not include the piers supporting it.

It is a scale model, not a wearable hat. CBS Austin reported that its construction combines fiberglass and foam over a steel frame, while the fiberglass was textured and painted to resemble the Tecovas original.

The track and Tecovas revealed the installation days before the U.S. Grand Prix. UPI said the project was created to mark the upcoming Formula 1 event, while CBS Austin reported a Guinness team certified the record at the site, citing the companies.

What is under the COTA cowboy hat?

A working bar has been placed beneath the structure. CBS Austin said race-weekend ticketholders could use it during gate hours from Thursday through Sunday.

The replica also carries a hat band, a steel horseshoe charm and COTA and Tecovas logos made to resemble branding-iron marks, CBS Austin reported. The two companies have partnered around the Grand Prix since 2022, the outlet said.

The hat is set to outlast the race weekend. COTA and Tecovas said it would remain a permanent fixture at the track after the Grand Prix, according to CBS Austin.

This story draws on original reporting from UPI.