Comments on: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix launch pictures

By: Kenny Ng

Kenny Ng — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:16:26 +0000

Journeyer, the pitlane exit via tunnel, I believe it’s the 1st ever pitlane exit with tunnel for all F1 tracks.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:40:13 +0000

Does anyone have any idea how I go about making hotel reservations at the newly (maybe not even complete yet) built Yas Marina Hotel in Abu Dhabi??? Please help. I have some VVIP’s looking for the best digs at the best spot on the track. Thanks!

By: chunter

chunter — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:59:10 +0000

I still think it’s shaped like a machine gun.

The more tunnels they add, the less “real” the circuits seem. I don’t have any complaints at a glance.

By: CarlitosF1

CarlitosF1 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:49:59 +0000

Interesting fast 1st sector and generous back straights. Awful Singapore-like final part with the 90º angled corners (they are a really awkward way to force the track into the hotel and around the dock.) It also looks more suited to go clockwise (that would provide a tighter 1st corner and some more action at the start). Love the triple chicane at the end of the second back straight, it looks like what the triple chicane at Singapore should have been like. Some pictures also seem to suggest gentle gradients, anyone knows how flat is this really?

By: DG

DG — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:52:45 +0000

To me it brings back memories of the Las Vegas ‘car park’, only this time its a purpose built car park! At least its a bit more interesting than Valencia.
The Pit-Lane is an interesting idea, and slicing through the hotel – will there be seating inside the building? It would have been fun to have the cars dive under the hotel, with a viewing gallery on either side.
I agree that the seating capacity is well below what we’d expect – will the ticket prices be high enough to make it exclusive? Perhaps there will be more grandstands in later years. One thing ‘European’ circuits haven’t learnt from America is putting grandstands all round the track.
And why isn’t the Drag Strip part of a long straight? they won’t have the two going simultaneously – will they?
As for what else could race there – A1GP, Superleague Formula, Japanese Touring Cars, Aussy V8s, and various motorbike series are all candidates for a new circuit in the Middle East.

By: Chalky

Chalky — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:37:30 +0000

The track goes anti-clockwise according to the arrow on the start-finish straight. I would have thought the layout suited a clockwise direction?

By: yorricksfriend

yorricksfriend — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:24:31 +0000

fair enough keith, when i read road and street in means the same thing to me – the circuit looks to complex and some of the best circuits are simple, like monza, whereas valencia and hungary – two very complex circuits provide relatively uneventful races.

By: James T

James T — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:49:35 +0000

Can’t tilke use gravel runoff?
Tarmac is an eyesore, and the cars can just drive straight off the track without any problem…

By: ajokay

ajokay — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:20:20 +0000

I don’t like how they’ve shoved a slow chicane in before that first hairpin. That could have been an overtaking point if it weren’t for the chicane. At least they’ve added the tarmac there so it could be a straight run in the future.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:57:35 +0000

Sush – Yep, purpose built track, no street parts.