Abu Dhabi: Despite the driver's championship and the constructor's championship having already been decided, Sunday's Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix still has plenty at stake.
An intriguing battle for the second spot behind Sebastian Vettel and an equally interesting fight for better mid-table position by a few teams have kept this penultimate race of the 2011 Formula One championship in the limelight.
Vettel, who has been rewriting quite a few F1 records, is in line for another one as he attempts to win pole both here and in Brazil to eclipse Nigel Mansell's 14 for Williams in 1992. Vettel has so far won 13 of the 17 Pole runs this year.
With five Formula One world champions — Vettel, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton — in the fray, it is the first year that so many world champs are racing each other. Complementing this competition on the Yas Marina Circuit is the huge festive atmosphere that is prevailing in the country, just after the Eid Festival and just before the UAE marks its 40th anniversary of its formation.
The organisers of the Grand Prix announced late last evening that the race weekend had been sold out. The announcement marked a sell-out event for the third consecutive year.
"We take a genuine sense of pride in the fact that 50,000 fans will pack out our grandstands again this year," said Richard Cregan, chief executive officer of the Yas Marina Circuit.
"We believe it is a reflection of the very special event that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit has become. This year is set to see another fantastic event and we want to thank all of the fans for their continued support."
‘Ongoing development'
"In line with the vision of the UAE leaders, the hosting of this Grand Prix marks a significant realisation in the ongoing development of Abu Dhabi as a global capital city and a world-class destination for international events," said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Yas Marina Circuit.
The three-day action starts with the practice sessions for the Formula One as well as the drivers of the other support races, even though fans got a glimpse of the behind-the-scene activities yesterday itself. Around 7,000 fans were given the opportunity to meet seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Dream stuff
The Thursday of a race weekend is typically focused on allowing fans an up-close look at Pit Lane, to greet their driver heroes, and take advantage of the array of entertainment on offer in the Oasis areas.
Long-time Formula One fan Henry Olejnik (56), travelled from Scotland to Abu Dhabi to experience the race at Yas Marina Circuit for the first time, he commented: "Today was truly the stuff of dreams, to be up, close and personal to the magnificent F1 cars and teams in this fabulous Yas Marina setting, simply takes my breath away.
"Getting to meet Alonso and Schumacher was a real highlight for me; it's so nice to find them approachable and appreciative of their fans. It is a wonderful memory for me to take back to Scotland."
