Racing towards the finish line - The Abu Dhabi F1 track

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:52 pm

We are pleased to introduce Bradley from The National in Abu Dhabi. Bradley and his colleagues would provide updates on the development of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 track at Yass Island. You can post questions to them as well.

This track will host Abu Dhabi's inagural Formula 1 race on the 15th of November 2009.

Following is an extract from an article written by Bradley on July 28th:

On the dirt road to Yas Island last week, drivers came upon a large sign that read: “Total man-hours worked to date: 26,447,598.”

Aldar Properties is racing against time to build a Formula One racetrack, marina, seven hotels, a golf course and an enormous theme park called Ferrari World on a 2,500-hectare island just off the shore of Al Raha Beach. The deadline cannot be moved by even a few days: the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on Nov 15 next year.

“We can’t afford to miss a date,” said Ronald Barrott, the chief executive of Aldar. “We will be ready.”

A quarter of Aldar’s labour force is at work on the island including some 18,000 construction workers operating around the clock in two shifts. The skyline is broken by jutting cranes, an asphalt plant and the skeletons of the structures that are rising by the day. At night the entire island is illuminated by banks of powerful floodlights while the work continues.

Part of Abu Dhabi’s Plan 2030, the US$40bn (Dh146.9bn) Yas Island has been designated a centre for leisure in the new capital, framed by enough homes for a population of about 120,000 around its edges. Aldar has revealed that the 5.8km racetrack will use 20 corners to snake around the southern part of the island, stretching alongside the new marina and featuring a straight where drivers will reach a top speed of 320km/h. Any other details about the track have remained a closely guarded secret, with Mr Barrott conceding only that “there are things on this racecourse different from any other course in the world”.

Last month, Abu Dhabi was awarded a slot in next year’s Formula One Grand Prix. It will be the 19th and final race in the championship, as well as Abu Dhabi’s debut into motorsports. The details of the event fall under the aegis of the newly-established Abu Dhabi Motor Sport Management (ADMM), chaired by Khaldoon al Mubarak, the chairman also of the Executive Affairs Authority and Mubadala Development. After Bahrain, Abu Dhabi is the second Formula 1 circuit in the Middle East.

For the full article, click here

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:08 pm

Is there a link for us to see an artists impression of what the track will look like when it's finished ?

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:12 pm

Bradley has provided us with this impression of the Abu Dhabi track

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 5:43 am

Looking at the artists' impression, it looks like the Abu Dhabi circuit should be an interesting track; its' got at least two fast straights and a nice, technical section also.

At present, only Formula 1 will be racing there; is there any possibility that, for instance, MotoGP or World Superbike will race at some point there in the future?

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:31 am

Thanks Ed.

Interesting looking track. It's going to be good to see how it looks when it's finished.

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:58 am

Here is the first on broard shots of a lap around the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi in an open wheeler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvjwBEYk50

Snowy · Post by **Snowy** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:53 pm

Looks like this is going to be the one and only GP where when the director cuts to a pitstop I'm not going to get up, go to the kitchen and make a cup of tea!

<T-K> · Post by **<T-K>** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:57 am

In all honesty, I don't like it very much....

Snowy · Post by **Snowy** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:22 am

Remarkably a number of the drivers are saying they like the track!

I tried it in rfactor and in GTR2 sims and it left me feeling pretty cold. I spent most of my time sliding off the track with cold tyres, I just couldn't get any heat into them. Fortunately the guys in the real world seem to have got their up to temperature and are only complaining of a little dust.

I've got a feeling that there will be overtaking opportunities as venturing off line can have some quite dramatic consequences. The track is boring has no real flow and the corners are samey enough to challenge even the most adept and concentrated driver.

I fully expect to see Jarno fall asleep at the wheel!