Motor Sport Circuit Guide

	Paolo Dionisi, the Italian Ambassador to the UAE, celebrates Italian Republic Day at Bell'Italia, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Posted on: 08/06/2010 Paolo Dionisi, the Italian Ambassador to the UAE, with his family, celebrated Italian Republic Day at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park set to open on October 28, 2010. Claus Frimand, General Manager of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and Ousama Ghannoum, Marketing and Media Director at Aldar Properti... Read More >>

	Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to Open October 28, 2010 Posted on: 13/05/2010 Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind, has announced that it will open its doors to the public on October 28, 2010, three weeks ahead of the second Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The long anticipated opening date was announced in a ceremony ... Read More >>

	Formula Rossa Roller Coaster at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Posted on: 13/05/2010 Formula Rossa Celebrating speed, aerodynamics and technical innovation, Formula Rossa will take you on the most thrilling ride of your life. Strap yourself into the F1 cockpit and blast away on the fastest rollercoaster on the planet. You’ll accelerate up to 240km/h, feel the power of 1.7 Gs, and race 52 metres into the sky, be... Read More >>

	Grosjean and Mutsch Take First World GT1 Victory - Corvettes Lead Championship Posted on: 18/04/2010 The first championship race of the FIA GT1 World Championship was won by Thomas Mutsch and Romain Grosjean in the nr5 Matech Competition Ford GT. Mutsch had to battle hard in the early part of the race to hold a slender lead over Andreas Zuber in the nr13 Corvette Z06 who has caught and passed Andrea Bertolini in the Vitaphone Racing Team M... Read More >>

	NATACHA GACHNANG UPDATE Posted on: 17/04/2010 Natacha Gachnang has a double compound fracture of her right leg and after a successful operation she is stable and recovering in the Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where she was airlifted last night from the Yas Marina Circuit. The incident took place during the first Qualifying session, at the end of the straight at Turn 8 of the Yas Marina Circuit... Read More >>

	Corvette Takes 1st Race Win in FIA GT1 World Championship! Posted on: 17/04/2010 Thomas Zuber and Marc Hennerici completed a lights to flag victory on board their Corvette in the Qualifying Race as the FIA GT1 World Championship made a spectacular debut in Abu Dhabi. The 60-minute contest provided some absorbing racing. Four different brands filled the first four places as battles raged throughout the field. Read More >>

	Bloomberg Television To Present FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010 and 2011 Posted on: 16/04/2010 SRO Motorsports Group and Bloomberg Television Unveil Two Year Global TV Collaboration SRO Motorsports Group (SRO), promoters of the new FIA GT1 World Championship and Bloomberg Television, today announced Bloomberg Television will present coverage of the FIA GT1 World Championship for the next two years. Bloomberg... Read More >>

	A new world challenge for HEXIS AMR Posted on: 14/04/2010 6 manufacturers, 10 events, 12 independent teams, 24 supercars, 1 winner April 16th and 17th begins a new chapter in motorsport history: the first edition of the FIA GT1 World Championship. The first leg marking the beginning of hostilities will take place in Abu Dhabi, about 5,000 kilometres from the HEXIS AMR headquarters. T... Read More >>

	Lapping Yas Marina in a GT1 GTR with Jamie Campbell-Walter Posted on: 14/04/2010 Former FIA GT Champion Jamie Campbell-Walter will be at the wheel of the Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R next weekend for the opening round of the FIA GT1 World Championship. As a race instructor, and the driver of the F1 2-seater, at Yas Marina he is one of the few drivers on the grid who knows the circuit very well. The Sumo ... Read More >>

	Romain Grosjean to Partner Thomas Mutsch in Matech Ford GT1 Posted on: 13/04/2010 Romain Grosjean signed with Matech Competition to drive the Matech Ford GT1 N°5 car this season. Pairing with the German Thomas Mutsch, the Geneva resident will discover his new surroundings at Abu Dhabi, for the first round of the GT1 World championship on his 24th birthday. Romain Grosjean signed with Matech Competition to drive the Ma... Read More >>

	NISSAN BECOME OFFICIAL CAR SUPPLIER TO FIA GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Posted on: 13/04/2010 SRO Motorsports Group and Nissan Unveil Agreement SRO Motorsports Group (SRO), promoters of the new FIA GT1 World Championship and Nissan today announced that they had reached an agreement that will see Nissan become the Official Car Supplier of the FIA GT1 World Championship for the inaugural 2010 season, with a further option for 2011. Read More >>

	FIA GT1 World Championship Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi! Posted on: 04/04/2010 Yas Marina Circuit will welcome the first race of the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship over the weekend of the 16th and 17th April. Twelve teams and a total of twenty four cars representing six brands will be driven by forty eight drivers as they go head to head at the season opener at Yas Marina. The championship features the most iconic ... Read More >>

	Ferrari World - New Audio and Video Tours! Posted on: 03/03/2010 Ferrari World, the biggest indoor theme park of any kind in the world, opens later this year. Our readers are invited to listen to an audio tour of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, presented by Andy Keeling, Park Manager. Andy's tour will provide you a glimpse of what you, your family and friends will experience at this unique venue. Read More >>

	The development of the Ford GT1 is now complete! Posted on: 22/01/2010 Matech Competition have completed development of their updated Matech Ford GT1 car, and manufacture is in progress, in good time for the start of the new season. Martin Bartek, Team Principal and Owner of Matech Competition: “I am delighted with the improved car. Each and every area of the car has seen improvements from both a performance and... Read More >>

	SERGIO GARCIA HITS 675 YARD DRIVE AT INAUGURAL 'WHACK FROM THE TRACK'! Posted on: 21/01/2010 Etihad Airways, a diamond sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (ADGC), hosted European Ryder Cup star, Sergio Garcia, at its inaugural 'Whack from the Track' golf challenge at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday 20th January. To celebrate the airline's partnership with the ADGC and on the eve of the tournament, Sergio was invi... Read More >>

	MSCG Exclusive: Interview with Richard Cregan, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit Posted on: 07/12/2009 MSCG Editor Chris Jenkins spoke exclusively to Richard Cregan, CEO of the amazing new Yas Marina Circuit, and ex-Manager of the Toyota F1 team. This is what he had to say.. Chris Jenkins (CJ): Richard, thanks first of all thanks for talking with us. You worked at Toyota for 25 years before you took on the role of CEO of Yas Marina last year... Read More >>

	LIMITED-EDITION GRANTURISMO S MC SPORT LINE LAUNCHED AT YAS MARINA Posted on: 01/12/2009 The limited-edition Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line with Matt White “ICE” finishing was unveiled last week in the futuristic surroundings of the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, in a dedicated event for a selected number of Maserati customers of the Middle East. Only twelve of these limited-edition GranTurismos will be produ... Read More >>

	Yas Marina Hosts the Inaugural Abu Dhabi Classic - 21st-23rd January 2010 Posted on: 29/11/2009 YAS MARINA CIRCUIT ANNOUNCES THE FIRST EVER HISTORIC RACING FESTIVAL – THE ABU DHABI CLASSIC 2010 Some of the most prestigious cars in the history of motorsport will race at Yas Marina Circuit from January 21-23, 2010 at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Classic. Yas Marina Circuit has joined forces with Masters Historic Racing to... Read More >>

	Ferrari World Abu Dhabi - Everything You Need To Know Posted on: 31/10/2009 Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, set to open in 2010, is the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind. It will be an intense multi-sensory experience and a must-visit for Ferrari enthusiasts, fans and their families. The Park pays tribute to the passion, excellence, performance, technical innovation tha... Read More >>

	Yas Marina - Track Surface Technology with Shell & Ferrari Posted on: 30/10/2009 Shell Motorsport, in partnership with Shell Bitumen, has created an exclusive video news release, featuring the views of Scuderia Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, official Scuderia Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. - Stefano Domenicali, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari - Felipe Massa, Official Driver Scuderia Ferrari - Frits de Jonge, Shel... Read More >>

	On Board with Bruno Senna at Yas Marina Posted on: 30/10/2009 Get a feel for the brand new Yas Marina circuit on board with F1s newest talent Bruno Senna. It really is a spectacular facility,summed up nicely by BMW Sauber F1s Nick Heidfeld after first practise today: “The track offers everything you can ask for. The tarmac is good and the lay-out is quite good with the first sector having the fast corne... Read More >>

	Williams F1 establishes Technical Centre at Qatar’s QSTP Facility Posted on: 29/10/2009 Williams F1 and the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) formally signed an agreement today to inaugurate the Williams Technology Centre (WTC). QSTP is a world class incubator for the research, development and commercialisation of new technologies that has attracted significant R&D investment from companies such as Shell, َQatar Petroleum, Exxon... Read More >>

	Jenson Button is in a Relaxed Mood for Abu Dhabi GP... Posted on: 29/10/2009 Newly crowned Formula One champion Jenson Button looks pretty relaxed doesn't he? And wouldn't you, now all the pressure is off! He's been relaxing with girlfriend Jessica Michibata during his stay in Dubai, where he has been preparing for the Abu Dhabi F1 race. Having been in the UAE for a week in order to train, Jenson has also been able to make up for no... Read More >>

	Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview With Bridgestone Motorsport Posted on: 28/10/2009 Bridgestone, the exclusive tyre supplier to Formula 1, heads to the brand new Yas Marina circuit for the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on October 30 – November 1, where the medium and soft compound Potenzas will be exploring this exciting new 3.45 mile circuit. This is the final race of a thrilling season which began in Melbourne in March.... Read More >>

	F1 - Abu Dhabi Preview by BMW Sauber Team Posted on: 23/10/2009 The 17th and final World Championship race of 2009 visits amazing new racing facility around Yas Marina harbour in UAE The 17th and final race of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship will take place on 1st November with the maiden grand prix at the new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The whole of the Formula One community ... Read More >>

	Motor Sport in Luxury
	Posted by: Chris Jenkins

	Yas Marina Circuit Located on the spectacular Yas Island north east of Abu Dhabi City in the United Arab Emirates, this brand new track (by that Herman Tilke fellow) is set to revolutionise the design of future Formula One circuits. Boasting top speeds of 200mph and average speeds of over 120mph, Yas Marina features nine right turns and 11 left turns and is one of the few venues on the calendar to run anti-clockwise. The track itself has been designed with racing in mind. As well as the waterside marina area, there are high-speed sections, tight corners for overtaking, and even a twisty street circuit-style sector. Being a clean sheet of paper circuit in a spacious development area within the world’s richest city, expect top notch spectator facilities & first class views where ever you are around the circuit. To protect spectators from such a hot climate, every grandstand is covered – a first for any circuit in the world. Although the Grand Prix will be the final race of 2009, temperatures will still be around 25-30 degrees so do take your sun cream! The amazing five-star, 500-room Yas Marina Hotel which straddles the circuit, is one of 20 hotels based on the Island. For further accommodation look in Abu Dhabi city, only 30 minutes in a taxi away. While you aren’t at the race, visitors can check out the many other attractions that Yas Island has to offer – the water park is the ideal place to cool off, there is a Warner Brothers theme park for comic book fans, the huge Shopping Mall contains over 500 stores, and for golfers why not try out the stunning coastal Yas Island course. Yas Island can accommodate all types of maritime vessels; Six marinas will adorn the coasts of Yas Island, each with its own unique and distinct style. The Yas Cays marinas will be a hub for tourists and residents of both Yas Island and Al Raha Beach with entertainment, food, and leisurely pursuits to be enjoyed. Also at Yas Marina is a drag racing strip and an off-road driving centre & driving school as well as a state-of-the-art kart track. From 2010, racing fans will be able to enjoy the massive new Ferrari World complex, set to become the largest indoor theme park on the planet. With over 20 rides, including what will be the fastest roller coaster in the world, this will be one not to miss. Abu Dhabi international Airport is undergoing a US$6.8 billion redevelopment, which should be finished in time for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 01 November 2009. The airport lies adjacent to Yas Island, making the track easily accessible by taxi. It’s a 30-minute drive to Abu Dhabi City and while taxis are inexpensive, all the major hire car companies can be found in the arrivals terminal. A third option for getting around is a new and heavily subsidised bus service, which became operational in June 2008. The Shamma-Saadiyat Highway is a 10-lane road connecting Yas Island to the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. The highway will continue from Yas Island, to Saadiyat Island, and then on to the city of Abu Dhabi. Provisions are also being made on the island for a light railway system. Abu Dhabi is very cosmopolitan nowadays and offers a wide range of cuisine to suit anyone. If you are feeling flush, try the Emirates Palace (once the world’s most expensive hotel) but for those wanting to sample the authentic Middle East cafe culture and cuisine, head to the area around the fish market in Abu Dhabi city. For some local culture, visit the camel market in Al Ain or the Abu Dhabi falcon hospital; for more of an international flavour, there’s the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which is the first Louvre museum outside France. The town of Al Ain is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is a popular tourist destination. It’s the spiritual heart of Abu Dhabi, having been built on seven oases and inhabited for more than 3,000 years. 2009 Grand Prix Schedule (please be advised that this timetable is subject to change) Friday 30th October Formula One Friday Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30 Formula One Friday Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30 Saturday 31st October Formula One Saturday Practice 11:00 - 12:00 Formula One Qualifying 14:00 Sunday 1st November Formula One Race (55 laps) 15:00