Excitement builds for Abu Dhabi F1 race

Abu Dhabi: About 70 per cent of tickets for this year's Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit have already been sold — with more than five months until the globe-trotting race series arrives in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi will host an F1 GP for the fourth successive year on November 2-4 and organisers are hoping the event will also be a fourth sell-out in a row.

With the 20 per cent early bird discount on ticket sales due to end on May 31, fans hoping to see the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher in action here are being urged to act quickly.

"The 2012 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to be the most exciting one to date," said Richard Cregan, chief executive officer of Yas Marina Circuit. "Working closely with our partners, we have extended ticket and entertainment options this year and the response from the fans has been overwhelmingly positive, as seen through our strong ticket sales."

In addition to an expanded variety of seating and hospitality upgrades available for the first time, fans can also expect a wider entertainment programme.

On track, the popular Australian V8 Supercars series will be the official support race. Racegoers can also buy select seating packages granting exclusive weekend access to both V8 Supercar and F1 pits, while all fans will have access to the stars at the planned Oasis areas.

Off track, free concerts are planned for the Corniche, and the wheels are in motion for an even wider programme of events that will include, as in previous years, exclusive F1 ticket-holder only entertainment.

Tickets are now available from selected Etihad Airways shops, Virgin Megastores across the UAE and GCC, the Yas Viceroy Hotel and Yas Marina Circuit.