Track Day // Scorching Temps // Dubai Autodrome

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The Middle Eastern racing season is well and truly over… well, less the hardcore Extreme Super Lap crowd and the occasional Drift event happening in the UAE and the rest of the region. Ambient air temps of well over 45c and track temps knocking on the door of double that have meant that competition based activities at the tracks has slowed to a snail pace over the past couple of months.

So when a text dropped onto my phone with details of a track day happening at the Dubai Autodrome, I questioned my sanity that I was even considering taking the crankandpiston racing GTI down for a run.  No A/C and very poor circulation had me contemplating dizzy moments and a car full of sweat.

That aside, I knew for sure that there would be a collection of hardcore fellows out there pounding out the laps.  What I didn’t expect was to bump into a very tidy collection of street cars and race cars out testing for the up and coming season.  So with my camera in hand, a bottle of cold water and a rather sexy test car (thanks to Bentley) I wafted towards the Drome to grab a couple of pics.

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The first car to catch my attention was Christian Saunders, who was out in his Caterham R400 (now closer to an R500)… however electrical gremlins where giving him hastle all morning and I didn’t see it move from the pits during my time there.

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Chris Wishart had the mighty Apex Motorsport Dodge Viper out for a summer shakedown.  Sadly we didn’t get to see much if any running of this monster during the last season of racing, so it was great to see and hear it pounding the laps out.  Mind you, I don’t think Chris was too happy with the heat from the sun along with the extreme heat from the exhaust running along the sill!

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Mike Scott from Gulf-Sport had “The Ashtray” out for a shakedown following a minor altercation with a competitor at Yas Marina at the end of last seasons Touring Car Championship.

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The car I never expected to see… More details to come!

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One of the nicest guys on the grid.  Jon Iossifidis from Australia was out with his team mate Martin Baerschmidt, testing their Aston Martin GT4.  Judging by the water sat under their car in the pits, they had the A/C wound up to full to compensate for sweltering cabin temps.

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Said Aston looking awesome in the historic Gulf colours…

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Air-Cooled Monster… Nothing to see here.

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A final shot of a frustrated Christian.  I for one can’t wait to see it firing on all cylinders again and giving the heavy weight race cars a run for their money.

So, after an hour of skin melting heat and not enough water consumed, I packed up and headed home to recover with an afternoon in front of the F1.  Till the next time… More heat… More nut cases, all doing what they love the most. Driving hard no matter the environment!

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