Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit (Arabic: حلبة مرسى ياس) is the venue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke,[2][3] and is situated on Yas Island, near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Yas Marina was the second of four Formula One tracks in the Middle East, with the first being in Bahrain and subsequent tracks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. A two-day GP2 Asia Series test was held to officially open the circuit, which was held a week before the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[4] It also hosted V8 Supercars between 2010 and 2012, with the event being the opening round in 2010 and 2011.[5][6] Outside motorsport the circuit was used for the final stage of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour cycle race in 2015.[7] The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.[8]

Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit (2021–present)
LocationYas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Time zoneUTC+04:00
Coordinates24°28′2″N 54°36′11″E
Capacity60,000
FIA Grade
  • 1 (GP layout)
  • 2 (corkscrew layout)
OwnerGovernment of Abu Dhabi
OperatorAbu Dhabi Motorsports Management
Broke groundMay 2007 (2007-05)
OpenedOctober 2009 (2009-10)
Construction cost
ArchitectHermann Tilke
Major eventsCurrent:
Formula One
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (2009–present)
Intercontinental GT Challenge
Gulf 12 Hours (2013–2019, 2022–2023)
Asian Le Mans Series (2021–present)
Former:
FIA World RX
World RX of Abu Dhabi (2019)
FIA GT1 World Championship (2010–2011)
V8 Supercars Yas V8 400 (2010–2012)
Websitewww.yasmarinacircuit.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present)
Length5.281 km (3.281 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:26.103 (Netherlands Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, 2021, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (2009–2020)
Length5.554 km (3.451 miles)
Turns21
Race lap record1:39.283 (United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W10, 2019, F1)
Corkscrew Circuit (2009–2021)
Length4.730 km (2.939 miles)
Turns19
Race lap record1:37.656 (France Jules Bianchi, Dallara GP2/11, 2011, GP2 Asia)
North Circuit (2009–2021)
Length3.130 km (1.945 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:10.027 (United Kingdom Olli Caldwell, Tatuus F4-T014, 2018, F4)
South Circuit (2009–2021)
Length2.360 km (1.466 miles)
Turns12
Race lap record0:59.572 (South Africa Jonathan Aberdein, Tatuus F4-T014, 2017, F4)

Design
A satellite image of the circuit, as it appeared in 2018

The circuit is located on Yas Island, a headland that was cut off from the mainland by a canal. It has sixteen corners and several straights,[9] and passes by the marina and through the Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi designed by New York-based architects Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote Architecture with a facade lighting design by Rogier van der Heide.

The circuit has five grandstand areas (Main Grandstand, West Grandstand, North Grandstand, South Grandstand, and Marina Grandstand) and part of its pit lane exit runs underneath the track. It also houses a team building behind the pit building, Media Center, Dragster Track and VIP Tower.[10] Additionally, one of the run-off areas runs underneath the West grandstand.

This changed when the previous turns 4, 5 and 6 were redesigned and the previous turns 11, 12 and 13 were also reconfigured in time for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

  • Seating Capacity – 60,000
  • Area – 161.9 ha (400 acres)
  • Length – 5.281 km (3.281 mi)
  • Longest straight – 1.14 km (0.71 mi)
  • Elevation change – 10.7 m (35 ft)

Construction

The circuit was built by main contractor Cebarco-WCT WLL, under contract from developer Aldar Properties. Among the sub-contractors involved were KOH AH HING (KAHBINA) from Malaysia (structural contractor), as well as specialised subcontractors like Voltas (MEP), PKE-Siemens (MEP), Able-Middle East (earthworks), Hamilton International (interior) and Bau Bickhardt (track) to name a few.

The circuit was constructed with a permanent lighting system provided by Musco Lighting, similar to the one installed at Losail International Circuit in Qatar. Yas Marina Circuit is the largest permanent sports venue lighting project in the world; previously the title had been held by Losail International Circuit.

The surface of the track is made of graywacke aggregate, shipped to Abu Dhabi from a Bayston Hill quarry in Shropshire, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula One drivers for the high level of grip it offers, though at the expense of a higher rate of tyre wear. The same aggregate material is used at the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix.[11]

On 7 October 2009, the circuit was granted final approval to hold Formula One races by the FIA.[12] Bruno Senna was the first driver to complete a test run on the circuit.

GP3 visited Abu Dhabi for the first time at the end of the 2013 season.[13]

Reception

After the first practice sessions at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the circuit was welcomed by the drivers, with Nico Rosberg commenting that every corner was 'unique',[14] while double World Champion Fernando Alonso echoed his sentiments, stating that it was enjoyable because there was always something to do. Force India's Adrian Sutil rated the circuit as being better than Formula One's other night race in Singapore as he felt there was too much light at Marina Bay.

Not all of the drivers were complimentary, with Giancarlo Fisichella expressing a particular dislike of the pit exit, which dips under the main circuit by way of a tunnel. Although the pit exit remained free of incidents for the early practice sessions, Fisichella claimed that it was both very difficult and dangerous.[14] Kimi Räikkönen notoriously gave his thoughts on the circuit, stating "the first few turns are quite good, but the rest of it is shit".[15]

After the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the designer Hermann Tilke said that they were considering making changes to the track to present more overtaking opportunities.[16] BBC Sport's Andrew Benson called the racing in the 2020 event "dreary" with Matt Beer of The Race naming the track layout as one of 6 reasons why the races in Abu Dhabi "consistently disappoint".[17][18] Drivers such as Daniel Ricciardo have also added their support for track changes.[19]

In June 2021, Saif Al Noaimi, acting CEO Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said modifications to the track's layout had been approved, with the modifications completed in time for the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[20] Turns 4, 5, and 6 were replaced by a single, less severe hairpin, turns 11 through 14 were replaced by a sweeping banked curve, and turns 18 through 20 were made less tight to allow more speed to be carried through them.[21][22]

Events
Current
Future
Former

Lap records

As of January 2023, the official fastest lap records at the Yas Marina Circuit are listed as:[23][24][25]

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present): 5.281 km
F11:26.103[26]Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing RB16B2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
FIA F21:37.445[27]Roy NissanyDallara F2 20182021 Abu Dhabi Formula 2 round
LMP21:40.913[28]Paul di RestaOreca 072022 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 1
LMP31:48.198[29]Laurents HörrDuqueine M30 D-082022 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2
Formula Regional1:50.698[30]Isack HadjarTatuus F.3 T-3182022 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula Regional Asian Championship round
GT31:51.985[28]Ben BarnicoatMcLaren 720S GT32022 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 1
Formula 41:54.671[31]Andrea Kimi AntonelliTatuus F4-T-4212022 1st Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round
Porsche Carrera Cup1.55.546[32]Bandar AlesayiPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2022 Abu Dhabi Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round
Ferrari Challenge1:56.889[33]Christian BrunsborgFerrari 488 Challenge Evo2022 Abu Dhabi Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific round
Gulf Radical Cup1:57.618[34]George KingRadical SR32022 1st Abu Dhabi Gulf Radical Cup round
GT42:03.461[35]Khaled AlahmadiPorsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport2022 Abu Dhabi Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round
TCR Touring Car2:06.197[36]Alexandros AnnivasCUPRA León TCR2023 1st Abu Dhabi NGK UAE ProCar Championship round
Renault Clio Cup2:16.338[37]Jerzy SpinkiewiczRenault Clio RS2023 2nd Abu Dhabi Renault Clio Cup Middle East round
Grand Prix Circuit (2009–2021): 5.554 km
F11:39.283[23]Lewis HamiltonMercedes AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
FIA F21:50.314Alexander AlbonDallara GP2/112017 Abu Dhabi Formula 2 round
GP21:50.110[23][38]Giedo van der GardeDallara GP2/082010 Abu Dhabi GP2 round
LMP21:56.560[39]Franco ColapintoAurus 012021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2
GP31:56.888[23]Marvin KirchhöferDallara GP3/132014 Abu Dhabi GP3 round
LMP32:05.165[40]Malthe JakobsenLigier JS P3202021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 1
Formula Regional2:07.324[41]Jamie ChadwickTatuus F.3 T-3182020 Abu Dhabi F3 Asia round
GT12:07.376[42]Thomas MutschMatech Ford GT12010 Abu Dhabi FIA GT1 round
Formula Renault Eurocup2:08.720[43]Victor MartinsTatuus FR-192019 Abu Dhabi Formula Renault Eurocup round
GT32:08.791[39]Ben BarnicoatMcLaren 720S GT32021 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi Race 2
MRF Challenge2:10.674[44]Felipe DrugovichDallara Formulino Pro2017 Abu Dhabi MRF Challenge round
Formula 42:11.046[45]Charles WeertsTatuus F4-T0142018 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round
Porsche Carrera Cup2:11.371[46]Dylan PereiraPorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup2020 Abu Dhabi Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round
V8 Supercars2.13.1600[23][47]Jamie WhincupHolden VE Commodore2012 Abu Dhabi V8 Supercar round
Ferrari Challenge2:15.130[48]Philipp BaronFerrari 458 Challenge Evo2014 Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali
Radical Middle East Cup2.15.229[49]Jani HjerppeRadical SR32018 1st Abu Dhabi Radical Middle East Cup round
GT42:21.240[50]Olli CaldwellMercedes-AMG GT42018 Gulf 12 Hours
TCR Touring Car2:21.896[51]Josh FilesHonda Civic Type R TCR (FK2)2017 Abu Dhabi TCR Middle East round
Short (Corkscrew) Circuit (2009–2021): 4.730 km
GP2 Asia1:37.656[24][52]Charles PicDallara GP2/112011 Abu Dhabi GP2 Asia round
GT11:52.431[53]Maxime MartinMatech Ford GT12011 Abu Dhabi FIA GT1 round
Formula Regional1:53.432[54]Jehan DaruvalaTatuus F.3 T-3182021 1st Abu Dhabi F3 Asian Championship round
GT31:56.203[24][55]Rob BarffFerrari 458 Italia GT32011 3rd Yas Marina UAE GT round
Formula 41:57.198[56]Dilano van 't HoffTatuus F4-T0142021 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round
V8 Supercars1:57.7400[24][57]Jason BargwannaHolden VE Commodore2011 Yas V8 400
North Circuit (2009–2021): 3.130 km
Formula 41:10.027[58]Olli CaldwellTatuus F4-T0142018 1st Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round
TCR Touring Car1:14.778[59]Luca EngstlerVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR2018 Abu Dhabi TCR Middle East round
South Circuit (2009–2021): 2.360 km
Formula 40:59.572[60]Jonathan AberdeinTatuus F4-T0142017 2nd Abu Dhabi Formula 4 UAE round
  • The main straight
    The main straight
  • Turn 7 (2009–2021)
    Turn 7 (2009–2021)
  • Grand Prix Circuit (2009–2021)
    Grand Prix Circuit (2009–2021)
  • North circuit and south circuit layouts shown in Grand Prix Circuit track map (2009–2021)
    North circuit and south circuit layouts shown in Grand Prix Circuit track map (2009–2021)
  • World RX layout of Yas Marina Circuit, used in 2019
    World RX layout of Yas Marina Circuit, used in 2019
  • Differences between the 2009 and 2021 layouts
    Differences between the 2009 and 2021 layouts

See also

References
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