Adam Khan emerging F-1 face of region

"My mother is Indian. My father is half-Iranian. I am a Muslim. I speak five languages including Mandarin. It is a very good mix for me," said Adam in an interview with Gulf News yesterday.

"I have been driving Formula One cars for Renault for almost a year now at tests and at team demonstration events. I am hoping to become an F-1 driver at least within the next year," said the British-born star, who was educated at King's College. "I got into racing after I won a bet in university and I was 16 then. Soon I discovered in had the ability and I started taking it up seriously," said Adam, who is pretty tall, at 185cm, for a race driver.

Drive around

Later in the afternoon, Khan was driven around the Yas Marina Circuit in a 4X4 vehicle by ADDM staff and said he was excited with what he saw.

"I was taken on a lap of the circuit and it is a very, very nice layout. I would love to have a go at it."

"I did like the pit stop and I think this is a new feature. It looks very, very challenging and driver must be spot on with his judgement when he comes out of the tunnel to join the track," said Adam, who has gained experience in a wide variety of racing formulas, ranging from Formula 3 to the GP2 Asia Series.

"I also liked the long straights in the track and I feel a speed of up to 330kmph could be registered on the main straight," the Renault test driver said.

Renault's commercial director Jason Campbell, who also visited the Yas Marina Circuit yesterday termed the facility as "unrivalled".

"I have been in the Formula One world for over 13 years and seen almost all the circuits and this one is unrivalled. People will be amazed when they see it," said Jason. "This is the jewel in the crown of Formula One racing and it certainly will be a privilege to be racing here. It will certainly be one of our biggest hospitality programmes when we bring in our corporate partners here and this facility is bound to develop into a tremendous venue," Jason said.