'Circuit will help develop local talent'

Abu Dhabi: The Yas Marina Circuit and the inaugural Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are expected to act as catalysts in unearthing a Formula One driver, according to Spanish F1 driver Marc Gene.

"Today we have three Spanish drivers in the Formula One [Gene himself, Fernando Alonso and young sensation Jamie Alguersuari] and most of this would not have been possible if Barcelona had not become a venue for Formula One in 1992," said Gene, who is a test driver with Ferrari now.

"The Yas Marina Circuit and the Grand Prix here will help. In my case it did. I got into Formula One in 1999. After the Grand Prix in Barcelona, the commercial world and the media played a big role in highlighting the sport and the budding drivers," he said.

"In our case in took over ten years. It could be faster here as the UAE already has a culture of fast and powerful cars. But most importantly it already has a base of karting," Gene said.

"Everyone must start with Go-Karting. It should start in the family when someone gets a youngster to take part in karting. It is impossible for anyone to go for F1 before doing Go-karting," he said.

"Yas Marina Circuit will also be staging many other support races and has other facilities like a drag strip, a driving school. All this will help," he said.

Engagement

Richard Cregan, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, had also said, "Bringing Formula One to Abu Dhabi and the construction of the facilities on Yas Island are part of a bigger picture. It is to engage the emirate population in this iconic facility. The ultimate aim is to produce [a] race driver."