Abu Dhabi to host Formula One's first day-to-night race

[Naveed Yaseen]

FIA gives green light to Abu Dhabi circuit



Friday, October 09, 2009
ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi circuit which hosts Formula One's first day-to-night race next month has passed its final inspection by the sport's governing body, organisers said.

The track, which stages the season-ending grand prix at Yas Island on November 1, was given the green light by International Automobile Federation (FIA) race director Charlie Whiting during a visit this week.

The 55-lap event is due to start in daylight at 1700 local and, with lap times of around one minute 40 seconds predicted, end in darkness under floodlights at around 1830.

Cosmetic work was still being carried out on surrounding facilities but organisers were confident work would be completed in time.

"Everything is going well," said circuit CEO Richard Cregan. "We've had a couple of handovers and that's the process we're in at the moment - as I call it, a 'shakedown' of the circuit.

"It's such a complex facility, so many buildings, so many elements to it in terms of how technical the circuit is, so we're going through it step by step."

Former drivers David Coulthard and Martin Brundle, as well as triple champion Ayrton Senna's nephew Bruno, gave the track their seal of approval during media rides in 300kph two-seater Formula One cars on Tuesday.

The GP2 support series will also test at the new circuit on the weekend before the race.

Grand Prix racing has held two successful night races in Singapore but Abu Dhabi will be the first to go from daylight to darkness.

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