Yas Marina Circuit has unveiled its most comprehensive events calendar to date, featuring a staggering 420 events and activities over the next 12 months.
With an “Always On” promise, Yas Marina Circuit underscored its position as truly a year-round hub for the worlds of motorsport, entertainment, fitness, and business.
The calendar launch marks the first time Yas Marina Circuit has passed the milestone 400 figure and beats the record of 377 activities and events in 2016-17. Many of the upcoming activities will centre around the newly upgraded business and sporting facilities.
In an exciting new development for the 2017-18 calendar, on March 17 the Circuit will host the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympics Abu Dhabi 2018 MENA Regional Games.
In addition, in the run up to the regional games, the Circuit’s TrainYAS evening, held every Tuesday evening, will become the official training ground for Special Olympics athletes taking part.
While Yas Marina Circuit is known for its sporting heritage, this year sees a major push to develop as a state-of-the-art hub for the region’s corporate sector.
Throughout the 2017-18 calendar, companies will have access to an upgraded Yas Conference Centre equipped with new and innovative catering options and the latest in conferencing technology.
Businesses can now fully and creatively customise their experience via the facility’s in-house event agency, Y-Solutions.
The Circuit will see the return of fans’ favourite motorsport events, ranging from single-seater championships and iconic endurance races to street-style drag events. Budding racers will receive extra motivation this year with an upgraded Yas KartZone.
Under lights at Train Yas.
As home to Abu Dhabi’s health and fitness community, Yas Marina Circuit will once again host a range of beginner-friendly triathlons, marathons, and cycling races.
A new StartYAS, TrainYAS and GoYAS Village will host the Circuit’s continued growth in health and fitness activity and will feature food and beverage outlets, a viewing deck, public WiFi, and hundreds more free bikes, and will be the all-new access point for the Circuit’s popular fitness evenings.
And of course, the perennial calendar highlight is the season-ending 2017 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX on November 23-26.
Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “Yas Marina Circuit is consistently adding to its annual events calendar with the biggest and best activities and programmes that provide the foundations for the Circuit’s multi-purpose role in the community.
“Our message to the thousands of sports and entertainment fans who consider this their second home, as well as the huge corporate community who use our world-class facilities, is that no matter what day it is, Yas Marina Circuit is ‘always on’.”
The need for speed on the Yas track.
Organisers have revealed details of a packed line-up of motorsport events. These include the second season of the FIA-accredited Formula 4 UAE Championship, a series for young motorsport talent and which helps drivers bridge the gap between existing regional racing series and European competition.
Perennial favourites return as the Circuit welcomes back the TRD 86 Cup. Supported by Toyota Racing Development (TRD), the TRD 86 Cup is a single-make, sustainable local motor sport initiative introduced by Yas Marina Circuit to enable amateur racers to drive in a professional, competitive environment.
Part of the popular six-round Yas Racing Series, the TRD 86 Cup features alongside the Middle East Radical Cup, Formula Gulf Academy, NGK Racing Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and UAE Time Attack. Returning for a second year within the Yas Racing Series is the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and TCR Middle East championship.
The Gulf 12 Hours endurance race is back on December 14-16, 2017, while the Yas Super Street Challenge, Yas Marina Circuit’s local urban racing competition, will return to tear up the tyres with five categories over four rounds, starting on January 18-20, 2018.
In exciting news for karting enthusiasts, Yas KartZone is re-opening with a fleet of 32 new karts, a revamped track, and upgraded briefing and changing rooms. The facility will host the Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro Event on January 5, 2018 and the UAE Rotax Max Challenge on March 8-9, 2018.
To celebrate the re-opening of KartZone, the Circuit is offering a complimentary KartZone trial experience on Friday 13 and Saturday October 14, between 2pm and 9:30pm.
The free trials will be offered on a first come, first served basis with no requirement to pre-book. Those interested in taking advantage should present themselves at Yas Central during the appointed times.
Yas Marina Circuit is rolling out an expanded DriveYAS programme for 2017-18 that allows drivers to test themselves against the track in a Jaguar F-TYPE, a Mercedes AMG, a Ferrari 458 as well as a Chevrolet SS drag racer.
New features include an upgraded DriveYAS briefing room, dedicated Jaguar and Mercedes AMG briefing rooms and a retail merchandising area.
Another packed fitness event programme is promised in 2017-18 with Yas Marina Circuit’s weekly StartYAS, TrainYAS and GoYAS by ActiveLife – Daman. Everyone from competitive athletes to those who prefer to exercise at their own level will benefit from the new Village.
Which event are you participating in?
The facility boasts 12 large air-conditioned containers, giving the area a fresh urban feel. Features include free Wi-Fi, a viewing deck, 600 free bikes, an F&B area, vending machines, and numerous sponsor activations.
In 2018, these weekly health and fitness evenings will further evolve by providing more activations on top of the weekly running, walking and cycling.
The extra events will include the AD Tour Challenge, and new for March, a cycling event that will see participants attempt to beat two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Fabian Cancellara around the track in time trial format.
Key dates for the UAE’s fitness community include WALK 2017 community walk around the circuit on November 17, 2017 and ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi in March 2018.
Triathletes will be spoilt for choice this year with TriYAS by Daman’s ActiveLife returning on February 16, 2018. The popular race will further innovate in 2018 with the addition of a new Super Sprint category for adults to its existing Sprint and Olympic Distances.
The shorter sprint distances reduce further barriers for first-timers and kids to encourage them to participate in their first triathlon.
In the world of professional cycling, the Abu Dhabi Tour comes to the circuit on February 25, 2018 for its thrilling final stage. Meanwhile, families will mark UAE National Day with a weekend of heritage-led activities taking place at the circuit on December 2, 2017.
This calendar season Yas Marina Circuit will again be the home of eSports in the UAE as it partners with the Middle East region’s leading eSports organisation Power League Gaming (PLG) to host a high-profile Grand Slam gaming event on December 2 at the Yas Conference Centre.
And with the 2017 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX fast- approaching, Yas Marina Circuit is heading for another sell-out weekend, following last week’s announcement that UK-based alternative rock band Mumford & Sons will play at the du Arena on Saturday November 25, alongside DJ Calvin Harris (Thursday) and P!NK (Sunday), with one more artist still to be revealed.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets provide access to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Water World, as well as the world-class line-up of Yasalam After-Race Concerts.
Tickets are available online at www.yasmarinacircuit.com, through the Yas Marina Circuit Call Centre (800 927) or +971 (0) 2 659 9800, as well as through all Etihad Shops and Virgin Megastores, Yas Central Express stand at Yas Mall, and through the YasHUB smartphone app and its Facebook shop: www.facebook.com/yasmarinacircuit
The 2018 edition of the YasHUB app will soon be available to download, allowing visitors to plan every element of their race weekend and stay up-to-date with the latest race news and information.
Golden Circle Upgrades – Limited Availability
Experience Price
4 day Packages AED 945
Thursday, November 23rd AED 195
Friday, November 24th AED 295
Saturday, November 25th AED 295
Sunday, November 26th AED 395
The highlight of our 2017-2018 calendar being the #AbuDhabiGP, set to be another sell out with “Kids Go Free” & Yas Island Parks incentives pic.twitter.com/9YoJyiEHda
— Yas Marina Circuit (@ymcofficial) October 10, 2017
