Yas Marina Circuit
24°28′02″N 54°36′11″E / 24.46722°N 54.60306°E
 | |
| Location | Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +4 |
| Major events | F1, GP2, V8 Supercars, Drag Racing |
| Website | https://www.yasmarinacircuit.com |
| Length | 5.554 km (3.451 miles) |
| Turns | 21 |
The Yas Marina Circuit is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The circuit designed is by Hermann Tilke,[1][2] and is situated on Yas Island, about 30 minutes from the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. Yas Marina is the second Formula One track in the Middle East, with the first being in Bahrain. A GP2 test race was held to officially open the circuit, which was held a week before the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[3] It will also host the opening event for the Australian V8 Supercars series in February 18-20 2010.[4][5]
Design
Designed as an Arabian version of Monaco,[1] the twenty-one corners will twist through the man made island off the Abu Dhabi coast,[6] passing the marina and Yas Hotel designed by New York based architects Asymptote, and winding its way through sand dunes, with several long straights and tight corners. The circuit has four planned grandstand areas (Main Grandstand, West Grandstand, North Grandstand and South Grandstand) and will have part of its pit lane exit run underneath the track. It will also house a team building behind the pit building, Media Center, Dragster Track, VIP Tower, Ferrari Building. [7] Additionally, one of the gravel traps will run underneath the West grandstand. The pit exit of circuit will also run under the actual track through a tunnel. Also, part of the track will run through one of the on site hotels.
- Seating Capacity - 41,093
- Area - 161.9 ha
- Length - 5.5 km
Construction
The circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, under contract from developer Aldar Properties. Among the sub-contractors involved were KAH, Voltas, PKE-Siemens, Able-Middle East, Hamilton International, Bau Bickhardt and Unger Steel.
The marina-based development will include a theme park, a water park, as well as residential areas, hotels and beaches.
The circuit was constructed with a permanent lighting system, similar to the Losail Circuit in Qatar.
Track lighting provided by Musco Lighting who provided the track lighting for Losail in Qatar in 2008. Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world, previously that title was held by Losail.
On October 7, 2009, the circuit was granted final approval to hold Formula One races by the FIA.[8] Bruno Senna was the first driver to complete a test run on the circuit.
The circuit has a few potential overtaking spots. The pit straight down to turn 1 is good for a KERS car. From turns 2, 3, 4 down to 5 will be a good place as a car which has good speed out of Turn 4 could get beside a fellow driver and outbrake them. After turn 7 the longest straight on the Formula One calendar is ended with a heavy braking chicane at turn 8. Finally the long curve down to turn 11 as the potential for overtaking especially for a KERS car.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ a b http://www.tilke-ac.de/projects.php?projid=1065-02&imgno=1
- ^ http://www.gulfnews.com/Sport/Motor_Racing/10244440.html
- ^ "GP2 race will officially open Yas Marina Circuit". Gulf News. Al Nisr Publishing. 2009-08-12. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10596444
- ^ http://www.v8supercars.com.au/content/hero_news/september_2009/abu_dhabi_start_confirmed/
- ^ "Motorsport: Abu Dhabi debut marks F1 driver shake-up". nzherald.co.nz. 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi breaks cover". Autosport. 194 (4): 10. 2008.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Noble, Jonathan (2009-10-09). "Abu Dhabi track gets final FIA approval". Retrieved 2009-10-09.
External links
- Yas Marina Circuit
- Herman Tilke - the track designer's page
- Abu Dhabi to stage 2009 F1 finale
- Yas Marina Circuit unveiled by Abu Dhabi
- Asymptote Architects
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