The first thing to reach the Western Grandstands is the muffled roar of engines, like the whine of a buzz saw in the distance. Then the front runners veer into sight, packed close, and accelerate in top gear down the straight toward the stands. The distance is eaten up in seconds, the cars hitting speeds of more than 300 kilometers an hour. Only at the last moment do they break, screeching into the turn at the board below the audience's feet, and shoot off again in streaks of red and gold.
This is Abu Dhabi, and the final round of the 2009 Formula One Grand Prix.
An upgraded race
The event, a massive production and an international spectacle, inaugurated Abu Dhabi to the world of F1 racing and flung it full force into the global spotlight. The final round of the Grand Prix is always a spectacular event, but this year, the United Arab Emirates' capital city took the show to new heights.
As the world's newest racing facility, the circuit is a landscape of development bounded by 5.5 km of track, with grandstands capable of hosting 50,000 spectators. The entire Yas island complex -- including 10 hotels, countless restaurants and shops and the world's largest indoor theme park -- are inseparable from the circuit. The high-rising silhouettes of the Shams tower and Yas Hotel, designed by Aldar Properties, dominate the skyline.
The circuit is an architectural phenomenon. It boasts the longest straight-away in F1 racing history, and bridges and underpasses add a third dimension to the action. Spectators are not necessarily limited to the grandstands, as the track is more open than many. Fans can watch from the ground along the track or from the roof of the exclusive Paddock Club, though perhaps the most novel view is that from the Yas Hotel, which straddles the track, allowing guests the unique experience of watching the race speed by beneath them.
The dimensions behind the project are stunning. The circuit was built by a workforce of some 14,000, racking up over 35 million hours of labor and completed only days before the guests' arrival. Operationally, it requires a constant staff of around 10,000, including a small army of logistics, catering, security, organizational, medical and other personnel, as well as the mechanics and the racing teams themselves.
A piece of the action
In the seven days leading up to the race, guests enjoyed high caliber luxury and diversion. By day, they strolled through entertainment centers where break dancers, clowns and beat box artists livened the atmosphere. The newly built Ferrari World theme park will offer next year's guests a ride in the world's fastest roller coaster, along with dozens of other Ferrari themed attractions and activities. Nightly entertainment included concerts by big-name acts including Beyonce, Jazzy B, Jamiroquai and Aerosmith. After-hours beach parties lit up the sky.
On November 1, the anticipation came to a head as the drivers buckled down for a gruelling 55 laps over the course of the two-hour race. At stake was the second place title, the first having been already secured by Brawn GP driver Jenson Button at the penultimate Brazilian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton led the Abu Dhabi race in the early stages, but was forced to retire due to a brake problem. Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull took and held the lead after that, cruising to victory and a second-place title.
For the first time in F1 history, the race bridged the hours between day and night, beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m. The changing degree of sunlight required an exact compensation of floodlighting to keep the track consistently lit, while from the stands, the audience could enjoy the sunset's progress.
A world apart
One wonders, initially, what interest Abu Dhabi could have with F1 racing, or why the sport would choose to launch a new phase in a region that has very little history of motor sports. In truth, the local population knew almost nothing about the details of F1 racing -- technical aspects of the cars, histories of the drivers, rules of the race -- prior to the event itself, and promotion was very limited.
From the perspective of Formula One society and the institutional bodies governing the sport, the answer is not overly complex. F1 is business oriented and will gravitate to locations where profitability is assured. Abu Dhabi puts very few restrictions on advertising -- unlike Europe, which has imposed strict regulations on tobacco and alcohol adverts. The city showed a willingness to spare no expense in making the event an eye-catching spectacle. The city's expenditures for the race reached close to $3 billion, compared to the $150 million to $200 million spent by Bahrain to launch its own Grand Prix in 2004.
To understand how Formula One could fit with Abu Dhabi's agenda, it is important to note that in a certain respect, the spectacle of modern Formula One racing is more important than the race itself.
The culture that has sprung up around the sport is an exhibition of speed, intensity, high-tech infrastructure, wealth and celebrity power -- among the big names in attendance were Naomi Campbell, Richard Branson, Boris Becker, Michael Schumacher, Jean Paul Belmondo and in the VVIP tower, the King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Spain Juan Carlos and of course the rulers of the UAE, including President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum.
That Abu Dhabi would choose this event to showcase itself to the world gives some indication of the image it hopes to present: modern, trendy, exciting and a hub for business and enterprise.
Abu Dhabi has long been eclipsed by the aggressive modernization and development of neighboring Dubai. However, as Dubai flounders amid the global economic downturn, Abu Dhabi has taken a step forward towards center stage -- one cannot fail to note that the race was christened the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and not the Emirates or UAE Grand Prix. The race is part of the city's bid for the global spotlight -- and when you have resources at your disposal like Abu Dhabi's oil profits, you can afford to bid high.
Abu Dhabi's own set of values were apparent throughout the Grand Prix as well. The traditional champagne, always sprayed out over the audience by the Grand Prix champion, was replaced this time by rose water, in deference to the city's Muslim values. And upon arrival to the circuit, guests were greeted with baskets of dates, the ancient and sustaining fruit of the desert. Granted, there was no doubt a restaurant a little ways behind vending steak, lobster and club sandwiches -- all the accoutrement a foreigner might need to feel at home -- but the point had been made.
You are in Abu Dhabi. You have come to the Desert. And we are proud of our Hi-Tech Desert.
NADIM MEHHANA is an automotive engineer and has been the pioneer of motoring on Middle Eastern television since 1992
© Executive 2009
