Thursday, September 2, 2010

Gordon Tietjens  has warned the rest of the sevens circuit
ABU DHABI F1 chiefs are confident their new Yas Marina track will give them a cutting edge on the 2009 circuit.
After originally toying with the idea of a street circuit with a semi-permanent section to rival Monaco, Singapore and Valencia, and the part-street layout in Melbourne, Abu Dhabi motorsport bosses have decided to create a purpose-built track.
And at a glittering launch at the UAE capital’s Emirates Palace Hotel last night, they revealed artists impressions and plans of how a circuit, they believe will set new standards, will look like for the 2009 season-ending Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix on November 15, 2009.
Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Co will be roaring round the full 5.5km (3.4 miles) track, which comprises of 21 turns in an estimated time of one minute, 40secs.
And race organisers are confident their new circuit will provide a thrill a minute next November - literally.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Motorsport Company, said: “With Yas Marina circuit the emirate of Abu Dhabi is specialising in developing a space for world class sport and entertainment.
“We hope it will make a welcome addition to the F1 family of racetracks.
“The track and surface are almost as specialised as the cars that will race on it.”
The Yas Marina Circuit, on Yas Island, will have three configurations. As well as the F1 layout, the second and third configurations of the track are shorter at 3.15km (1.9 miles) and 2.36km (1.46 miles) respectively. The two additional tracks can run independently of each other and make it possible for the Yas Marina Circuit to hold two events simultaneously.
That gives Abu Dhabi motorsport chiefs the option of perhaps launching a bid to host the world’s best motocycle riders and MotoGP, or sports car racing with the FIA GT.