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Bernie Ecclestone has signed a 7 year deal with Abu Dhabi to host a Formula 1 race.

The circuit will be built on Yas island and is expected to include a street and marina sections.

This will be the second Formula 1 race in the Gulf Region. Bahrain have earlier extended their contract with Bernie Ecclestone.

Eccelstone said:

We are very committed to Abu Dhabi. We have a seven-year contract, but I'm sure the race will go on forever.

Ecclestone added that there are 5 countries wanting to stage a Formula 1 race and that he is aiming for a 20 race calendar including a night race possibly in Singapore.

What history does Abu Dhabi have with motorsport. Without searching I can't think of a quality driver from U.A.E

With the money in that region, they could buy someone, change their nationality and, voila, instant local F1 star.

cmlean wrote:With the money in that region, they could buy someone, change their nationality and, voila, instant local F1 star.

They could buy the whole F1 if it comes to that

To my knowledge there are no F1 drivers from the Middle East and I am not aware of any in the formulaes that feed into F1.

China and Turkey are the same and Malaysia to a degree (with only Alex Yoong).

As I understand it, the area concentrates on rallying and while they are no World Champions from there, several drivers from that area have competed at the international level with varying degrees of success. Ben Sulayem is like the Michael Schumacher of the Middle East!

As for the wealth, I think gkaytaz is right

I also suspect that despite Dubai being the most popular place over there and their ambitions to hold an F1 race, I think their decision to setup the A1 series meant that they will not have an F1 race!

Ed wrote:To my knowledge there are no F1 drivers from the Middle East and I am not aware of any in the formulaes that feed into F1.

China and Turkey are the same and Malaysia to a degree (with only Alex Yoong).

As I understand it, the area concentrates on rallying and while they are no World Champions from there, several drivers from that area have competed at the international level with varying degrees of success. Ben Sulayem is like the Michael Schumacher of the Middle East!

As for the wealth, I think gkaytaz is right

I also suspect that despite Dubai being the most popular place over there and their ambitions to hold an F1 race, I think their decision to setup the A1 series meant that they will not have an F1 race!

To my knowledge there are two Turkish GP2 currently active. I don't know of an active Chinese driver at this time. I hope they will get involved more. There must be some talented fellas out of a billion people

I stand corrected gkaytaz

Some of the taxi drivers in Shanghai should pursue a proffessional racing career

Interesting circuit layout!

This is the only image we could locate at this stage (from the official Abu Dhabi 2009 website)



To announce the event, Abu Dhabi setup a temporary circuit and brought a number of teams with their drivers and did demonstration runs, etc .... money talks!

Ed wrote:Interesting circuit layout!

This is the only image we could locate at this stage (from the official Abu Dhabi 2009 website)



To announce the event, Abu Dhabi setup a temporary circuit and brought a number of teams with their drivers and did demonstration runs, etc .... money talks!

If they hotrodded turn 18 to turn 1, it could be a good circuit.
Now that the cars are "formulated", long straights with maximum braking, with a few twisty bits will seperate the Gung Ho's from the Real Drivers

I would like to see the run down to turn 8 extended by 600 metres, followed by "A really big long bend". Now that the cars are formulated, lets see some spectators inhaling carbon fibre (note to self, always sit upwind on corners), lets see some fried tyres, lets see the DC's, (Noted BB driver) cut down the inside on lap 44.

It is long....

Julian Mayo wrote:I would like to see the run down to turn 8 extended by 600 metres, followed by "A really big long bend". Now that the cars are formulated, lets see some spectators inhaling carbon fibre (note to self, always sit upwind on corners), lets see some fried tyres, lets see the DC's, (Noted BB driver) cut down the inside on lap 44.

If you eliminate turns twelve and thirteen....

Too many turns there

Tilke are recruiting, they need help

While you're at their site, click on the center image of this link. The backdrop and the circuit are breathtaking!

Beautiful. Looks damned cold tho.

Looks fantastic.