The latter being the newest track makes this season truly a season of breakthroughs and changes.
Since Michael Schumacher left the competition, it seems like Formula 1 has become a battle of pace and technology. The glory days of aggressive driving and fearless overtaking has been put aside.
Here is the profile of the Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina Circuit
Yas Marina Circuit
| Race Date: | 01 Nov 2009 |
| Number of Laps: | 55 |
| Circuit Length: | 5.554 km |
| Race Distance: | 305.470 km |
| Lap Record: | n/a - |
Based on the circuit diagram as well as the spectator's panorama, YM Circuit has put major efforts in making sure that the audience see a better view of the racing action and that is a great, great decision.
| Innovation. Beauty. Comfort. Whether a driver, a racing team or a spectator, Yas Marina Circuit has been designed to produce an unforgettable experience. Inspired by the culture and values of Abu Dhabi combined with cutting-edge innovation and luxury features, it is a truly unique place. Yas Marina Circuit is the perfect combination of style and function. The Formula 1™ track (see map reference 01) is 5.55km long. This track can be split in to smaller tracks at 3.1km and 2.4 km each which can operate simultaneously where desired. Approximately 50,000 spectators can view the action on the circuit from the comfort of permanent, covered grandstands and VIP facilities. Yas Marina Circuit is the only motorsports venue in the world where all of the grandstands are covered.  The Main Entrance (02) brings visitors into the heart of the circuit, passing the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management building (03) before going under the track to the area behind the Main Grandstand (04) which accommodates almost 7000 spectators opposite the Pit Building (05). The Pit Building has 40 garages for teams and officials and is surmounted by exclusive hospitality facilities. The Team Buildings, which house racing team staff and drivers, are immediately behind while the circuit Medical Centre (12) is at the western end. Images from the 2009 Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and other major events will be broadcast to the world from the Media Centre (06) which will service up to 600 journalists and includes a photography suite, cafeteria and roof-top hospitality. Patrons enjoying the spectacular view from the West Grandstand (07) will be part of another world first: the run-off for cars which fail to negotiate the tight turn at the end of the long straight passes directly underneath them! In fact every seat on the circuit has a very special view. Spectators in the North Grandstand (15) will enjoy an arena atmosphere at the hairpin, while those in the South Grandstand (09) have one of the greatest panoramas in motorsport, looking out over the 500 room, 5-star The Yas Hotel (11), the Marina itself and the Yacht Club (10). The seating on top of the Support Pit Building (08) will not only allow spectators to see the support race action up close but take in a broad sweep of the circuit including critical turns around the Marina. While everyone at the circuit will feel like a VIP, the 60m solar powered Sun Tower (13) is reserved for VVIPs. The Driving School Building (14), Drag Racing Centre (16), Maintenance Building (17), Karting Centre (18) and Business Park (19) will be busy year-round with access via the North Entrance (20) |
Next year, we will be once again witnessing another addition to the season - the Korean Grand Prix
South Korea is spending millions of dollars on a track in Yeongam county and officials are confident the Korean Grand Prix, set for October 17, will quickly make its mark. Work is in progress at the 5.6km site, 320km south of Seoul, where seating to accommodate 135,000 spectators is being built.
Organizers say the main circuit will include Asia's longest straight stretch of 1.2km which will allow speeds of up to 320km per hour. Seoul has hosted the Olympic Games, the Asian Games and a football World Cup, but never a Formula One race, despite a major domestic auto industry. [Source: CNN]
More, more, more news:
U.S. F1 team say 2010 car is now being built
Glad to hear that American team is back on track (in what appears as a European-dominated sport). Though we are not seeing the return of Indianapolis, we are about to see an All-American Car in the 2010 season. So, who will drive this car?
The new U.S. F1 team have started building their 2010 car and will have it finished in time for testing in January, team principal Ken Anderson said on Wednesday.
"Our world headquarters is now complete and fully functional, and the 2010 race car is in the construction phase," Anderson said in a Q&A released by the team based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Thanks to our in-house design and engineering staff and the aid of our technical partners, for the last 10 to 12 months, the car has gone through thousands of iterations in a virtual environment," he added.
"With this virtual design, we can test and be sure that it's right from structural, design and engineering standpoints, so we don't have to make a part, test it, break it and start again.
"Our timing is according to plan, with an early November "roller" and a finished car in time for January 2010 testing," said Anderson.
He said a number of staff recruited from other Formula One teams would be joining formally at the end of the month.
"Building a team and a world-class manufacturing facility are a work-in-progress but we're ahead of schedule and are excited about going racing next year," added Anderson.
U.S. F1 are one of four new teams entering Formula One next year and are alone in being based in the United States rather than Europe.
Formula One's rulers have expressed concern in recent weeks, however, about the likelihood of the team being ready to start the season.
The sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said last month of U.S. F1 that "possibly they are doubtful" while International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Max Mosley referred to "all sorts of rumours about them."
The team had hoped to field an all-American driver line-up, but co-founder Peter Windson was quoted as telling the autosport.com website that no longer looked likely.
"Our ambition to run two young Americans is looking more difficult," he said.
"I'm still hoping we'll be able to run one American, but that's a tall order because there aren't many Americans out there with superlicences."Wrapping-up
Jenson Button is about to take this year's championship battle, but once again, the "battleneck" is between Ferrari and McLaren on getting the third place in the constructor's and fifth place on the driver's.
Who is my bet? Ferrari of course!
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