Abu Dhabi revs its brand engine

Although the tussle for the Formula One Drivers’ Championship was settled at the penultimate race in Brazil, Abu Dhabi will bring the curtain down on another full-throttle season on November 1. We get the inside track on the sparkling new Yas Marina Circuit from Richard Cregan, CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management.

With the race less than two weeks away how are things progressing at this late stage?
Richard Cregan. Things are progressing very well. As you can imagine there is a lot of work involved with a project of this magnitude and there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to get everything finished. Everybody knows that the grand prix is just around the corner so we are trying to make sure that everything is up to a standard that is acceptable for our guests, whether they are international or local.

What will this grand prix and other racing events at the Yas Marina Circuit mean in terms of tourism, business and putting Abu Dhabi in the shop window of the world?
The great thing about Abu Dhabi is the long-term planning that is part of their strategy. Yas Marina Circuit is part of that strategy in attracting people to Abu Dhabi as a business and leisure destination of choice. We play a part in this strategy and a part in Yas Island's development so it is a privilege to get this circuit. When you look at what Abu Dhabi is doing on an international stage, it is quite remarkable. Some great planning has gone into the Yas Marina Circuit and you can see it happening according the 2030 vision here, which is stunning.

This will be the first twilight race on the F1 calendar. How will this create a unique experience for the drivers and showcase the circuit and Abu Dhabi to the watching millions around the world?
Everything we have done so far has been unique in the way the track has been put together, in the way the facilities have been designed, so we are in keeping with that with the day/night race. The second reason is to be different. There has been a night race [Singapore] and attempts at changing the race time during the day. We think that starting a race during daylight and finishing it at night is unique – it has never been done before and allows us to show off the facilities we have here like the hotel and the marina with the lighting.

There is a concern among racing fans that flashy new circuits are gradually replacing the older tracks full of racing history and pedigree. What would you say to the fans who are worried that Formula One is losing identity with the scrapping of established venues?
I think like that like any great sport it has to go through a change and evolution. I don't believe that any time soon we are going to lose the great circuits. For instance, you will still have Spa-Francorchamps [Belgium] and Suzuka [Japan] and Monaco, which are some fantastic circuits. They will stay in the calendar because they are very unique and characteristic of what we know as Formula One. They have a place and it is not going to change. We have tried to achieve a combination from those great circuits here but, at the same time, incorporate some unique features of our own.

What are these unique features?
The covered grandstands are quite unique, while the pit lane exit is a tunnel, which is both safe and spectacular. There is also a great elevation change that people will see when they come – approximately 18 metres between start/finish straight and turn three. Then you have the track running underneath the hotel and around the marina and this is something unique that we are very proud of. 

Bahrain has played host to an F1 race since 2004. What you have learned from this gulf neighbour's ability to stage the event?
They have done an amazing job and went against all the odds to build a great circuit in the Middle Eas. They have a lot of awards for their race there but we are looking to achieve our own success here at Yas Marina Circuit and I believe that in the future you will have two great races in this region. It will be testimony to the whole of the Middle East in moving forward and putting this region on a world stage.

The grand prix happens just one weekend a year. What else will you be staging at the circuit?
As well as the support races that weekend, we have a very extensive programme which includes six to eight major motor sport events. Then we have more events that will be more 'club-sport' level and we have other non-motor sport events like marathons and exhibitions. So there is a lot of things happening and we believe the only restriction we have here is our own imagination in being able to put on good events throughout the year and making sure that this facility is for the people of Abu Dhabi, as it was originally intended.

What are you looking forward to most about the race on November 1 and when will you be able to relax?
I will relax when we get to Sunday night and everybody is leaving the venue having had a remarkable experience and wanting to return the following year. I think that's probably the most significant thing. As I have experienced many times myself, there is nothing like the sound of an F1 engine so I am looking forward to that again. The first time you experience the noise you will never forget it.