Yas Marina Circuit will explode into action this weekend as the ‘Thunder from down under’ hits Abu Dhabi for the opening race of the 2010 V8 Supercars Australia Championship series.

The Australian V8 Supercars will race at night for the first time in their history. They will also be the first to use an exciting feature of the Yas circuit – a high speed off-camber left, right, left turn sequence known as ‘the Corkscrew’.

Dropping 15 metres in height across just 100 metres of track, it is sure to pose enormous challenges to the drivers.

“Having the first round of the 2010 V8 Supercars Australia Championship Series is great for Yas Marina Circuit,” said Richard Cregan, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit. “On top of that, to run this series’ first ever night race and use a special circuit configuration designed to emphasise the specific performance characteristics of these cars, will make these races unforgettable.”

Equally enthusiastic was the Chairman of V8 Supercars Australia Championship Series, Tony Cochrane. “The phenomenal facilities at Yas Marina Circuit are absolutely mind-blowing and the lighting is out of this world. Fans and spectators are going to get a fantastic show at this amazing new world class circuit.”

The V8 Supercar series is renowned for the physical and close contact nature of its racing and is growing in stature across the world as the premier Touring Car racing series. All 29 of the competing cars take as their basis either the Ford Falcon or GM (Holden) Commodore; although they bear an outward resemblance to the production road-going models, they undergo serious modification to make sure they can cope with such a physical form of motorsport.
The cars are strictly governed in all aspects of performance to ensure the drivers are all on an even footing and to create closer, more exciting racing. This often means that the entire field of drivers is separated by less than one second over qualifying laps.

Among the star attractions will be the 2009 V8 champion Jamie Whincup and three-time Australian Championship winner Craig Lowndes, both of whom have switched from Fords to Holdens this year to race for Team Vodafone – it will be interesting to see how the brand-loyal Australian fans react to the move. Also, look out for David Coulthard’s second cousin Fabian who will be driving another Holden for Bundaberg Red Racing.

Die-hard blue oval fans will be looking to Mark Winterbottom of FPR Falcons to fly the flag for Ford – he was the highest placed Falcon driver in last season’s championship. They will also be hoping that Jim Beam Racing’s Steven Johnson, son of Aussie V8 legend [whoops!] Johnson, will improve on his sixth place finish of last year.
The V8 Supercars will be accompanied by four additional support races: the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Challenge, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, UAE GT Championship and the Gulfsport Radical Cup.

The weekend’s activity is not limited to the action on the track, there are also a host of events taking place in the Oasis area at the circuit to keep the whole family entertained. A sand sculpture competition, face-painting, henna tattoos, ‘paint your own boomerang’, balloon bending, jugglers, a surf simulator, cricket zone and kids area are just some of the things on offer. There will also be a stage featuring a DJ and the Australian band ‘Skitzophonik’.

Tickets
Prices start from AED 325 for a one-day pass and AED 565 for a two-day pass. Children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased online from www.yasmarinacircuit.ae, by calling 800 YAS (927) or by visiting one of the retail outlets located at Yas Hotel or the North Entrance Gate of Yas Marina Circuit.


Supporting acts
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge: 2010 marks the inaugural season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, featuring 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. The cars may not be altered, guaranteeing every driver an equal opportunity – the Championship reflects the significant increase in motorsport interest in the region.

Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Challenge: A single-make touring car series for Chevrolet Lumina CSV V8 sedans, this Challenge offers spectators thrilling competition and action-packed racing.

UAE GT Championship: Making its debut in 2010, this series has attracted a spectacular grid of Porsches, Corvettes, Dodge Vipers and Aston Martins to name just a few. The 45-minute mini-endurance races include a mandatory pit stop to allow for driver changes.

Gulfsport Radical Cup: Entering its fifth consecutive season, this is the longest-running motor racing series in the Middle East. With 20 national and expatriate drivers and an even more varied grid of small, light single-seater cars, this year’s championship will provide more of the wheel-to-wheel racing for which it has become famous.

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