Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers promise best ever race weekend

Matt Jones - Editor 00:11 30/03/2015
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  • The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2014 saw Lewis Hamilton claim the world title.

    As iconic Formula One races either drop off the motor racing map or face bleak futures, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organisers predict the seventh UAE race will be the best one yet.

    The new F1 season is barely two races old yet talk of debt and failure to renew contracts saturate a sport renowned for wealth.

    The German Grand Prix has been struck from the F1 calendar for 2015, with some fearing it may not return, and there are also concerns that the Italian GP could follow suit.

    The Abu Dhabi GP will once again take place at the stylish Yas Marina Circuit from November 27-29 this year.

    With Yas still reverberating to the sound Lewis Hamilton’s championship crowning win in Abu Dhabi in November, race chiefs signed a new deal with Etihad to continue as the event’s principle sponsor until 2021 and, at the official launch yesterday, those at the helm insist the event has a long future in the UAE capital.Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel won the second race of the season in Malaysia.

    “I know it’s very complex, but this is the world of motorsport. Teams come and go and venues come and go and it’s always for the improvement and betterment of the sport,” said Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas, when quizzed about the future of the German and Italian races.

    “It’s sad. It’s losing a tradition but this is F1 and we see a lot of changes every year. It’s part of the equation of F1 and I’m sure it’s going to be for the better of the whole sport.

    “We have a different equation here. Abu Dhabi comes together to get behind the event. We’ve seen the many merits of the race in the last six years and we hope to continue that for the years to come.

    “What we offer our fans is a complete package of excitement. The race elements and beyond, people understand what it means when they get an Abu Dhabi GP ticket. It’s definitely easy to get excited for this year’s event.”

    The Nurburgring was scheduled to host the German GP in July, but numerous financial difficulties behind the scenes forced its withdrawal.

    Hockenheim, which alternates staging the event each season, was asked to step in and fill the void, but negotiations broke down.

    Meanwhile, Monza’s contract is up for renewal in the next two years and the Italian GP is not expected to survive. 

    2015 is the first year in 60 years that an F1 race will not be held in Germany. Italy has hosted a Grand Prix every year since 1947 and Monza has been the venue in 65 of the last 68 years.

    The theme for this year’s Abu Dhabi GP is ‘Go Beyond’ and Al Ameri said organisers are determined to build on the success of last year.

    “It promises to be our best grand prix ever,” he said.

    “I am delighted that we are entering our seventh Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. We need to go beyond the expectations and offer an even fuller experience for race goers across all aspects. 

    “Some highlights will include a greater section of entertainment options, enhanced hospitality and new individual ticket packages, including a one day roaming ticket for Friday.Lewis Hamilton celebrates his world title in Abu Dhabi.

    Shane O’Hare, Etihad’s senior vice president of marketing, said: “This year is the seventh year we’ve been the title sponsor and we’re very pleased.

    “It’s a very important event for Etihad and our home, Abu Dhabi. It’s the biggest international event in the UAE and watched by a global audience of 450 million people. It is an unparalleled event to showcase Etihad and Abu Dhabi.

    “The extension makes us one of the longest continuous title sponsors of an F1 Race in history. This is the most prestigious sporting event on the planet and to be associated with this is great for Etihad and Abu Dhabi. It’s a natural fit and it’s here to stay for a very long time.”

    Al Ameri said he and his team are working night and day to top last year’s event.

    Authentic local culture will form the backdrop to the motor racing drama this year in the lead-up to UAE National Day on December 2.

    “The UAE’s biggest and best sporting entertainment weekend will kick-off the UAE National Day celebrations. This will be related in the off-track activities which will offer the many thousands of international visitors an authentic taste of Emirati culture and history,” he said.

    Whatever the fate of other F1 venues, Al Ameri says that is none of his concern and he is only focused on the final race of the season in eight months’ time.

    He said: “There are lot of things happening within the F1 community that may or may not impact us here in Abu Dhabi. Last year there was the whole controversy of the noise levels and when it came to the event, people just enjoyed it and got a lot of value out of it and went home with good memories.

    “The aim is to make it the best one ever and we are working to achieve this.”

    Hamilton clinched the drivers’ title in the Middle East in November, but Al Ameri does not think that the season finale has to be a title decide in order to generate excitement.

    “We’ve had success throughout the past six years. It’s not always that we’d had a fight for the championship in our race,” he said. “Regardless of whether the race is a championship decider we promise people they will have a great experience and will get to enjoy a spectacular event. 

    “Having something to race for in Abu Dhabi does have a more exciting element to it but we believe Abu Dhabi has its own unique passage to offer fans and spectators.

    “We’ve seen the success of hosting F1 here in the previous six years. The package, the proposition itself brings its own excitement and people enjoy the race itself.”

    O’Hare added: “The great thing about F1 is that anything can and does happen every year. It’s completely unpredictable right until the end generally and this is why we’re great supporters and are very excited to see how the series unfolds through the season.”

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