Historic racing festival at Yas Marina Circuit

Some of the most prestigious cars in the history of motor sport will race at Yas Marina Circuit from January 21-23, 2010 at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Classic.

Yas Marina Circuit has joined forces with Masters Historic Racing to include five different types of racing categories in the Abu Dhabi Classic, including the Masters regular 1970’s Grand Prix cars and a spectacular grid of 1950s and 1960s Grand Prix cars.

In addition, there will be races for the World Sportscar Masters cars, which so captured the spirit of Le Mans in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.

“These are remarkable cars that have never before raced in the Gulf region, and combined with our Concours d’Elegance, exhibits by car clubs and other displays, will create an exciting new type of event,” said Yas Marina Circuit Chief Executive Officer, Richard Cregan.

“Bringing these famous classic racing cars to the Emirate is part of our comprehensive program to offer the UAE a broad range of the world’s top motor sports. On the track, spectators will witness some of the most sensational racing between cars of great historical importance. Off the track there will be fantastic entertainment and activities for a truly unique experience – it will be a great day out for family and friends to enjoy”.

Classic car owners and car clubs in the UAE can join in the festival. There will be a broad selection of historic car races, Concours d’Elegance (showing some of the world’s most beautiful and classic automobiles) and displays by manufacturers and car clubs.

Abu Dhabi Classic will see combined races for GT cars of the 1960s and Le Mans cars of the 1950s.

This will produce an evenly-matched grid by pitting racing icons such as the GTs, Jaguar E-Types and AC Cobras against prototype stars of the ’50s, the Jaguar D-Types, Ferrari Testarossas and Maserati 300s.

Each grid will race three times over the weekend – including, in another first, a night race under floodlights for each grid of these historic racing cars.

Masters Series Director Christopher Tate said, “We are thrilled to have developed this relationship with Yas Marina Circuit. The circuit itself, with its special variant for historic cars, and the entire facility, is the most impressive I have seen anywhere in the world.”

Masters’ competitors from around the world - and so many others - will hope to join in with this opportunity to race at Yas Marina Circuit and go on and see more of a fascinating country. Historic racing in the sunshine in January is for most owners, a welcome and all-too-rare possibility, so this new event in Abu Dhabi will be a huge boost to historic racing in general.”

Alongside the backdrop of beautiful Yas Marina, spectators will be able to enjoy a fabulous combination of experiences including sunset yacht cruises, boutique shopping, gourmet dining and top class entertainment.

Yas Marina Circuit, on Yas Island, is host to the first Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from October 30 to November 1 this year.

The Abu Dhabi Classic in January will be followed by Australia’s premier racing series, the V8 Supercars in February in their first appearance in the UAE.

Year round, Yas Marina Circuit will be the venue for many of the world’s top motor racing series as well as offering opportunities for the public to experience the thrill of motor sport within a safe environment.