The most aticipated race of the year Abu Dhabi, Whos going?

[ProjectK1]

With this years championship there has been some exciting battles both on & off the race track, I personally believe its going to be fight to the finish with Lewis and Nico but with the double points in Abu Dhabi this year it will really make things interesting!
Who's also planning to go and watch this exciting race?

[37chevy]

ash73 said:

What a shame the WDC will be decided on such a st track.

with a stupid points system

[Europa1]

"The most aticipated [sic] race of the year Abu Dhabi" - words I never thought i would see uttered seriously...

[Davie_GLA]

Why so anticipated? Its the worst track in the season.

[mollytherocker]

Mmmm, this has me thinking....

[ProjectK1]

Well for me, as it is the last race in the F1 calendar it always gives me that extra buzz.
I have been the last two years & totally loved it, the weather and YAS marina is also fantastic.
If we are talking favourite tracks my personal favourite would have to be Monaco although each track has its own characteristics. :-)

Edited by ProjectK1 on Monday 29th September 13:58

[F1spy]

Double point system is not good for Formula One.

[undred orse]

I went to the first GP there and loved it.The organisation,seating and view of the track was excellent.There was certainly every effort made to make it a great day.

Edited by undred orse on Monday 29th September 22:42

[Jasandjules]

It isn't a great circuit though to my mind. Certainly hardly worthy of a classic.

[undred orse]

I don't disagree with you about the circuit but the difference is that they clearly want the spectators there to have a faultless experience and everything is geared to this.The contrast to Silverstone of a few years ago when I stopped going is stark.My lasting impression of that was of being ripped off and provided with the minimum they could get away with for the maximum price.

[Europa1]

There is an interesting divergence of views between those who have attended the race in person and those (like me) who have only seen the race on TV.

Again it seems symptomatic of the malaise affecting F1 - falling TV audiences, and also empty seats at the home GP of the current world champion.

The malaise needs a diagnosis and treatment plan urgently. Answers on a postcard please...

[IanUAE]

I went to the first 2 gp's at Abu Dhabi. It has its plus points:

1) Very easy to get to
2) Organised park and ride parking (tickets dictate which car park you use)
3) Concerts on every night to help spread the traffic out leaving after the circuit activities finish
4) Well organised inside the circuit
5) Good views from the grandstands
6) Pits are epic (we race there during our race season)
7) Epic track to ride around on at night on a motor bike

The bad bits:
1) Both gp's were very boring due to lack of overtaking opportunities

[FW18]

I think it says something about the new tracks when we see the Hungaroring as an exciting/enjoyable track, when in the 90's it was normally the race everyone hated to watch!

[Speed Badger]

I miss Brazil or Japan being the finale

[coppice]

Yeah - Abu Dhabi with its rich motor sport heritage- just like Bahrain and S Korea and its utterly anodyne track . Oddly enough I prefer the hold your breath drama of Suzuka and Spa .And for a new track Austin is pretty damn good too.Silverstone has its faults but having seen Peterson at Woodcote 73 , Mansell at Stowe 87 and Rosberg's 162mph lap in 85 it has pretty rich history for me .

And double points ...FFS.. so ONE win at Yas Marina is worth the same as wins in Belgium and Japan - of bloody course it is . Ecclestone, yet again, is guilty of devaluing the sport to the status of a badly scripted soap opera.

[rallycross]

Brazil would be a good circuit to close the season not this dreadful borefest in the sand.

[catfood12]

undred orse said:

I don't disagree with you about the circuit but the difference is that they clearly want the spectators there to have a faultless experience and everything is geared to this.The contrast to Silverstone of a few years ago when I stopped going is stark.My lasting impression of that was of being ripped off and provided with the minimum they could get away with for the maximum price.

Spot on. My Silverstone experiences have left a bitter taste for the reason you mention above. I went to Yas in 2010, it was a great experience, again for the reasons you mention above. Missed last year due to wifey pressure, but was at Bahrain. Now that is a little dull, just in comparison. Any F1 race in person is fantastic, Silverstone shortcomings aside.

[coppice]

So ..why do you think Silverstone charges so much ? Nothing to do with the fact that the only income the circuit gets from the GP is ticket sales . It's cheaper in Abu Dhabi ? I wouldn't doubt it- but unlike devalued GPs in Gulf States our government doesn't throw money at Ecclestone and his cronies to induce him to stage a GP here. Russia next..still my beating heart...

[K50 DEL]

I live 70 miles away from Yas and won't be going.
Went the first couple of years I lived here but it's just not a good enough race to warrant the cost and now that they've removed the Aussie V8s from the support races there's great gaps of nothing in the schedule which makes the days pretty stilted.... add that to the dire post-race concerts this year and I'll be watching on Sky F1 !

[Steve H]

coppice said:

So ..why do you think Silverstone charges so much ? Nothing to do with the fact that the only income the circuit gets from the GP is ticket sales . It's cheaper in Abu Dhabi ? I wouldn't doubt it- but unlike devalued GPs in Gulf States our government doesn't throw money at Ecclestone and his cronies to induce him to stage a GP here. Russia next..still my beating heart...

Running the GP increases Silverstone's income every day of the year. If it had moved to Donny do you think that Silverstone would still be able to charge what they do for all other events/circuit hire?