The United Arab Emirates is home to two world-class racing circuits. The most recent of which is the futuristic Yas Marina Circuit. This is a modern racing facility with an air of Monte Carlo with its marina. It also has a drag strip incorporated in its design. Part of this drag strip is to try to provide an outreach for the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) to extend NHRA drag racing into the Middle East. This Middle Eastern collaboration was made complete with the Al-Anabi Racing team collaborating with Don Schumacher Racing. Besides F1, other series have raced at this course like the Australian V8 Supercar Series, and the Australian V8 Supercar Series races on a shorter configuration for their Desert 400 race. Races are usually run at night at this course (perhaps not to bear racing in the brutal Middle Eastern heat). No worries- this track has VERY sufficient lighting to light up the track at night. The track mostly has lots of lighting and palm trees. No matter how you look at it, this is one racing facility that will blow your mind with its futuristic appeal.
This blog post is my post about the Yas Marina Circuit. A special hello to all of my readers from the United Arab Emirates who may be reading this post. I hope my post will be to your liking. After my post on the Bahrain International Circuit, I incorporated another label...
The "Middle East" label pertains to topics regarding or related to the Middle East. It is a way that I think I can get some more Middle East readers to John's Blog Space. Hello to all of my Middle Eastern readers and visitors to John's Blog Space.
--- Yas Marina Circuit ---
Here is a look at this circuit's two layouts:
^ from: http://f1singaporegp.wordpress.com - While not the first modern motor racing facility in the Middle East, Yas Marina Circuit is surely the most spectacular facility in the Middle East, even besting the Dubai Autodrome.
^ from: this article on www.speedcafe.com.au (best I could find) - This modified configuration of Yas Marina Circuit features a Corkscrew configuration and is usually raced on by the Australian V8 Supercar Series.
Over twenty corners and 3.451 miles (or 5.554 kilometers) define this course. It can be found on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is a very expensive facility with Ferrari World Abu Dhabi as part of the facility as well as a golf course and many other high-end recreational facilities. The area between Turns 7 and 8 make up the drag strip area of this course. After Turn 13 and before Turn 19, this complex of corners features the marina area of this course, where some boats and yachts are docked. This track was basically designed to give a Monte Carlo feel to the United Arab Emirates. Many people will immediately discredit this course as just another "Tilke-drome." It would easily be discredited as another modern racing facility with no character or personality unlike more popular or more intense Grand Prix courses. The Australian V8 Supercar Series races a 19-turn, 2.92-mile (or 4.7 kilometer) configuration for when they do the Desert 400 around Bahrain. This shorter configuration breaks off just after Turn 3 and uses about two-thirds of the long backstretch. At night, the track is definitely eye-catching with its lights around the whole course. It may not be the Marina Bay Street Course in Singapore, but it is certainly eye candy.
Just looking at the configuration, Turns 7, 8, and the entire complex between Turns 14 and 20 are the most complex. One of the biggest complaints about this course is the tunnel when exiting pit lane. Some have complained that there aren't as many high-speed corners at this track to make racing interesting. It does have a nice flow early on before the left-right complex that leads to the hairpin at Turn 7. The flow of the course almost seems like a temporary street course. And when you consider the marina section of the course, you begin to feel a bit more like you're on a street circuit rather than on a permanent course. There is not too much runoff road or off-road areas around most parts of the track, so a vicious crash or a pileup of cars can be pretty messy around a track like Yas Marina Circuit.
Video Lap.
This is the best video I could find and use in showing you the track as it is. It was taken from 2010. Watch this full speed video at night around the lovely Yas Marina Circuit's Grand Prix layout:
Lap Records.
Both are records as of (November 4, 2011): Sebastien Vettel holds the lap record around the Grand Prix configuration with a lap time of 1:40.279 from his Red Bull car. The V8 Supercar configuration lap record was set by Charles Pic in GP2 Asia, with a lap time of 1:37.656.
That concludes this blog post. You can visit yasmarinacircuit.com to learn more about this racing facility. This track even has its own YouTube channel. To see videos from this track's YouTube channel, check out YasMarinaCircuit on YouTube. Thank you for reading!
The Kingdom of Bahrain joined the map of international motorsport when the magnificent Bahrain International Circuit (also known as the Sakhir Circuit) opened in 2004. This small island nation northwest of Qatar is home to one of the finest race tracks in the Middle East. It can be found in the city of Sakhir, Bahrain; which is 12 miles (or 19.31 kilometers) south-southwest from Bahrain's capital city of Manama. It has a variety of configurations ranging from the Grand Prix layout to the interior and exterior tracks. The Endurance layout of Bahrain extended the track from 3.36 miles (5.407 kilometers) to 3.91 miles (or approx. 6.3 kilometers), and extending the number of corners from 15 to 24. This Endurance configuration was used by Formula 1 for 2010. Newer F1 rules and the lengthened track resulted in a race so disliked that rather than call it the "Grand Prix of Bahrain," it was called the "Grand Prix of Boring." There was no 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix because of civil unrest in Bahrain at the time. Assuring Bahrain would have its Grand Prix for 2011, it was ultimately canceled. Bahrain will be the place to kick off the 2012 F1 season. Bahrain and the Bahrain International Circuit are the first to host modern F1 races in the Middle East. Prior to this, there was once a Formula 2(?) exhibition race in Israel in the 1970s.
This blog post is about the Bahrain International Circuit and will be the first of a brief series of two different Race Track posts regarding Middle East tracks. If you are from Bahrain and you're reading this, I send you a special salute and special thanks for visiting John's Blog Space!
--- Bahrain International Circuit ---
Let's take a look at the Bahrain International Circuit:
^ from: brakebanzeen.wordpress.com (best I could find) - The Grand Prix circuit of Bahrain International Circuit is 3.36 miles (5.407 kilometers) long.
^ from: en.espnf1.com (best I could find) - Bahrain's Endurance layout adds ten more corners after Turn 4 of the Grand Prix course and rejoins at Turn 5 of the Grand Prix course. The total length of this layout equates to a 3.914-mile (6.299-kilometer) layout.
The Bahrain International Circuit was constructed by Hermann Tilke. Ground broke at the track in 2002 and was open for business two years later. This course features a number of different layouts. Its unveiling would help to bring some more circuit motor racing to the Middle East. The primary Grand Prix circuit is 3.36 miles (5.407 kilometers) with some sixteen or so corners. Besides the GP circuit layout, there are about four other layouts:
• The Endurance layout of Bahrain starts at Turn 4 of the Grand Prix circuit and includes ten extra corners leading back onto Turn 5 of the Grand Prix course (Turn 14 of the Endurance course). This was the configuration Formula One raced on in 2010 to lukewarm reception with the new rules that disallowed refueling pit stops.
• From Turn 4 of the Grand Prix course to Turn 14 of the Grand Prix course, four more corners are added to make up the exterior course. The length of this exterior Bahrain course is an estimated 2.20 miles (3.53 kilometers) in length.
• Turns 5 through 13 of the Grand Prix course make up most of the short interior course of Bahrain.
• Finally, this course has a six-turn clockwise oval configuration that is about 1.25 miles (or about 2.01 kilometers) in length.
So when it comes to racing at Bahrain International Circuit, it is very adaptable for many kinds of racing.
In a way, Bahrain has a flow kind of like the Shanghai International Circuit, except that it doesn't have as many offbeat corners like Shanghai has. Turns 1, 4, and 10 of the original layout are the trickiest to me. It is easy to deceive Turns 14 and 15, which seems like a sharp right that is accompanied by a kink. That section is nowhere near as deceptive as... say, the final chicane at Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve. It has a very good balance of top speed with decisive corners.
Video Lap.
This is a video lap around Bahrain from 2006:
Lap Records.
(record as of the initial blog post (November 4, 2011)) The lap record around the Grand Prix circuit was set by Michael Schumacher in 2004 with a time of 1:30.252. He was racing his Scuderia Ferrari to set this lap time. The lap record around the Bahrain Endurance layout was set by another Ferrari. This time, by Fernando Alonso in 2010 with a lap time of 1:58.287.
That's the end of this one. Learn more about the Bahrain International Circuit by visiting www.bahraingp.com.bh. Thank you for reading!
The impact of a nation hosting a Grand Prix race is immense. Formula One is the world's premier motorsport. Being able to host a race featuring the world's most sophisticated race cars with some of the world's greatest drivers speaks high volumes. I began to think about this topic somewhat and decided to blog about it. I am blogging about this topic to answer this question: what do YOU think it means for a nation or a certain city to host a Formula One Grand Prix race?
I don't consider myself an F1 fanatic, but I do welcome all racing fans including the F1 fanatics. Most of this blog post pertains to Formula 1 Grands Prix. However, this can also apply to MotoGP Grands Prix as well.
--- My Initial Thoughts ---
^ from: www.topnews.in - Hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix is ALWAYS a big deal considering the scope and appeal F1 racing provides internationally.
Hosting a Formula One Grand Prix race at a competitive venue means that you invite the best drivers and best race cars to an intense racing challenge. As long as the venue is a homologated FIA Grade 1 facility suitable enough for F1 racing (some tracks are FIA Grade 1 facilities, but for testing only), just being able to host a round of the Formula 1 World Championship in whatever country or city is always something to be pleased with. A number of tracks and venues make provisional or preliminary schedules, but never actually get raced. I blogged once about the Autopolis Circuit on the Japanese island of Kyushu. The track itself is very challenging (as are most Japanese courses). But... it just didn't get to be raced as part of the F1 World Championship.
Obviously, if you're going to bring some of the best race car drivers in the world with some of the most sophisticated racing machines in the world, it is best have a track long enough and challenging enough to test the limits of an F1 racer. I have always wondered what makes Formula 1 so challenging (and I mean this in a respectful light). I mean, is it the fact you have to have such incredible reaction times to handle an extremely fast circuit racing car? Is it the challenge of the tracks themselves? Is it about building the ultimate racing car... up against the ultimate racing cars as other teams see fit? The ultimate test of F1 drivers and teams is to take part in Grands Prix around the world as well as in addressing individual challenges F1 provides.
--- Hosting F1 Grands Prix ---
Let's take a look at some of the nations to host F1 Grands Prix this past decade (2001-2010). Here were some of the nations to host F1 races either for the first time or first time in a long time: Turkey (Istanbul Park), Singapore (Marina Bay Street Circuit), Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina Circuit), Bahrain (Bahrain International Circuit), China (Shanghai International Circuit), and the Korea Republic (Korean International Circuit). Let's not forget the return of F1 to the United States at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Before that, the United States had F1 Grand Prix action in a number of places- Sebring, the streets of Dallas, Las Vegas, Riverside International Raceway, the streets of Detroit, Watkins Glen International... all among other places. You can add India and Moscow (Russia) to the list of future F1 racing venues for when the Grand Prix races for these locations are run proper.
The impact is huge to host an F1 Grand Prix race. I sometimes like to think of F1 Grand Prix races to be like the World Cup. All the attention is usually paid to one place as the sport's or league's stars all converge to do battle on the track. In today's modern F1, most everything has to be modern or futuristic. At no point was this more apparent than when the streets of Singapore hosted Formula 1's first ever night race (or at least the first-ever F1 race run under artificial lighting. A lively and energetic city-state like Singapore provides an outstanding setting for which to host something exciting like the Singapore Grand Prix.
I am someone who believes that money talks. If you can throw money at something, you can do almost whatever you want. Evidence of this in racing is when tracks in the Middle East started coming up. Think about it- there were hardly any Middle Eastern racing venues until recent times. One of the first venues to come to mind in this subject matter is the Dubai Autodrome. The Dubai Autodrome is evidence of this. There is already lots of money with oil and tourism in the United Arab Emirates, so having a world-class racing facility like this is wonderful for racing fans in Dubai. Sadly for Dubai, the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi seems to mostly overshadow a great track like the Dubai Autodrome.
So I think if there is a good enough financial base and a fairly decent population, you could almost basically take Formula 1 anywhere. But ANYWHERE? I'll put that to the test in the next section!
--- What If... Future Nations/Cities to Host Grands Prix? ---
The previous section involved hosting F1 Grands Prix. This section, though, pertains to what if certain nations or cities had their own F1 Grand Prix venues. Some of the nations and cities you see mentioned here may have never had F1 race there or even had drivers from these nations compete in Formula 1.
What if nations and/or cities like the following hosted F1 Grand Prix events? You may see some surprising and interesting choices for F1 Grands Prix (hypothetical names used):
Grand Prix of Mexico?
The last F1 race in Mexico was back in 1992 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The new Circuit of the Americas is sort of a de facto course for Mexico, even though this track is based south of Austin, Texas, USA. There was once a planned venue for Formula 1 to race in Mexico on the streets of Cancun. Whether or not this deal is on or not is beyond me.
Grand Prix of Venezuela?
Though there are racers from Venezuela, Autódromo Internacional Pancho Pepe Cróquer (or better known as Turagua) is about the only proper racing facility in Venezuela. Turagua is more like a club-level circuit from pictures I've seen. Surely not an FIA Category 1 course. However, it would be interesting to see Formula 1 in the country where the world's largest waterfall (Angel Falls) is located. I think the Caracas market would be the biggest market to potentially have any major racing facility and the biggest market to perhaps host such a major racing event.
Grand Prix of Iceland?
You want crazy? This would be it! This country does bear a touch of relevance because there was a planned race track to be constructed in Iceland called Iceland MotoPark. Haven't found anything to suggest this track was actually created or not. This would likely be a course that would have been home ground for the Iceland A1GP team. The only city I (or most other people) know of is Reykjavik, so that HAS to be a primary market in considering an F1 venue.
Grand Prix of Portugal?
The Formula 1 World Championship once considered Estoril home. A recently-built track in Portugal is the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão. This track is certainly long enough to host an F1 race at about 2.9 miles in length. However, I think F1 teams use Portimão as a test venue. It's a very nice track from what I've seen in pictures and video.
Grand Prix of Sweden?
Swedish folk have a lot of great race tracks. Mantorp Park is the one I know best of and love most. I am familiar with Anderstorp from playing the very first GTR. I know Sweden in racing for the wonderful Rally Sweden.
Grand Prix of Finland?
With so much racing on and off road, it's sad that Finland doesn't have its own F1 Grand Prix. You can name just about any Finnish racing talent. I get a lot of traffic from Finland, so I wonder how my Finland readers would feel about seeing today's F1 in Finland. Finland does have a good amount of proper racing facilities. To me, though, only the Helsinki Thunder street course from the mid-1990s comes to mind as far as the only tracks I can readily think of in Finland. I would have to imagine that a proper track capable of hosting a modern F1 race would probably be based in southern Finland or southwestern Finland in terms of a general market.
Grand Prix of Estonia?
A country I have recently grown to love is Estonia. Especially with cities like Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia is a very beautiful country from what I have seen in pictures and video. The only Estonian in racing I've heard of is Markko Martin. There is a permanent facility in Estonia called the Pärnu Ring, but it seems a lot like a club-level circuit.
Grand Prix of Switzerland?
There hasn't been much motor racing in Switzerland unless you go back in time. Many people will immediately think of Alain Menu as far as Swiss racing talent is concerned. I read of a former race track called Bremgarten in Swiss motor racing history. It was a 4+ mile race course mostly on public forested roads. Its danger made this course basically go defunct after a while.
Grand Prix of Austria?
A1 Ring last saw F1 action in 2003. Since 2004, A1 Ring has been mostly disused. I've heard two different reports on this track- either it's been completely deconstructed and gone for good, and another source says that this track has been reconfigured mostly to host touring car racing. The best thing about the A1 Ring was the beautiful view of the Austrian countryside provided. It was also a very tough track with lots of elevation changes and some very decisive sharp turns.
Grand Prix of Croatia?
The beautiful country of Croatia doesn't have any really major series racing on tracks in Croatia. Really, Croatia has the Automotodrom Grobnik in Rijeka, Croatia. I wonder if Croatia would be a good enough place to maybe host an F1 Grand Prix race.
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan is Europe's southeasternmost nation. It is a country whose coastline makes up part of the northern half of the Caspian Sea. There is no motor racing of any kind that I'm aware of in Azerbaijan. However, its capital city of Baku (which is a Sister City of Houston) is a lovely place and is even an oil capital. This alone could be either possibility to host an F1 race on the streets of Baku or some modern F1 track near Baku.
Grand Prix of Egypt?
Back in the mid-2000s, there was a track to be called Ghazala Bay that would host Formula 3 racing. That track, for what I know, NEVER materialized. What if Formula 1 wanted to race in Egypt? The only three major cities I know of in Egypt are Cairo (the capital), Aswan, and Alexandria.
Grand Prix of Morocco?
The streets of Marrakech have been the recent home of racing in Morocco. Even well before this, Formula 1 used to race in Morocco decades ago. Would it be possible for Morocco to maybe have a permanent racing facility to host a round of today's F1 World Championship? Tell you what- the Marrakech street course was made for touring car racing. It would be too boring for F1 cars.
Grand Prix of Kenya?
Kenya is better known in racing as the home of the Safari Rally. I would not be sure if there would be enough financial backing or space to come up with a modern Formula 1 track in Kenya. It would be entertaining to see F1 race there considering the possibility of a heavy rain storm in Kenya for an F1 race.
Grand Prix of Israel?
I started a thread on GTPlanet.net regarding the Middle East's emergence into motorsport. One person posted something about an attempted Formula Two (not F1) once racing in Israel in 1970, but the race was canceled because of poor crowd control. The race was held during Sabbath, which probably made things worse trying to control crowds. A motorsports law was approved in Israel last year or some five years ago. Would Israel be a candidate to host an F1 Grand Prix? It would be yes if there was enough interest and a lot of financial backing to build a quality modern F1 circuit.
To begin the Middle Eastern swing of this blog post, I start with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has a track called Reem International Circuit that is 2.36 miles in length. A number of racing series have some major races here for both cars and motorcycles. I'd imagine that Saudi Arabia would be a significant market for any such motorsport in the Middle East besides Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Grand Prix of Qatar?
The Losail International Circuit is the only real contribution to motor racing unless Losail somehow isn't good enough for Formula 1. Now, this track was basically made for motorcycles. This track plays host to the Doha 8 Hour race as part of the FIM Endurance World Championship. Qatar will play host to the 2022 World Cup. If you think Qatar is on the rise, then you can say that Qatar would be a nice market for F1. The only exception is if F1 doesn't want to host three races in the Middle East.
Grand Prix of Kazakhstan?
The reason why I mention Kazakhstan is because Hermann Tilke had a planned racing venue for the Middle Eastern nation called Kazakhstan MotorCity. Not sure about the status of it, but it made me wonder if Kazakhstan would make for a future country for F1 to visit and hold a race at.
Grand Prix of Vietnam?
It would be most interesting if Vietnam had a Grand Prix. Remember how I said that if you throw money at something, you could make any kind of statement you want? Well, imagine this happening to Vietnam. I have created a number of fictional race tracks; four of which in Vietnam. The premier one I've envisioned was a racing facility not far away from downtown Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam). Again- would be interesting if there was a sparkling, modern, FIA Category 1 racing track in Vietnam. The chances of it actually materializing? Very unlikely.
Grand Prix of Thailand?
Staying in Southeast Asia, I've somewhat pondered if there was an F1 Grand Prix of Thailand. There was an arcade-only F1 racing game from Taito called "Ground Effects." In the 1992 arcade game "Ground Effects," one of the venues is a fantasy course based in Thailand. Thailand has two real tracks to my knowledge- Bira International Circuit and Thailand Circuit. So I have to wonder what if Formula One wanted to hold a Grand Prix race in Thailand. It would either have to be some really modern F1 racing facility or maybe a race around the streets of Bangkok. I think the key market has to be Bangkok.
Grand Prix of Indonesia?
The world's largest archipelago in area is Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia has a great racing facility that has played host to A1GP racing at the Sentul Circuit. Indonesia even played host to a round of the World Rally Championship in the mid-1990s. The two biggest races in Southeast Asia are the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang and the street course around Marina Bay in Singapore. If there was a third F1 Grand Prix to be held in Southeast Asia, Indonesia would be a pretty nice candidate.
Grand Prix of Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a lively city. If you have played Gran Turismo 4, you may have ran a number of laps around the Hong Kong circuit. Hong Kong at night would be insane to have an F1 race around. Hong Kong looks spectacular at night. This could be a race to maybe outdo (or try to) Singapore's F1 course. Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China would be interesting if it did materialize. I don't think it will, though.
Grand Prix of the Philippines?
There is racing that goes on in the Philippines. Perhaps the toughest Filipino race track is the Batangas Circuit. Only other racing track I've heard of in the Philippines is Subic Bay Raceway. Would there be enough to have a major racing circuit in the Philippines? Not likely, but it would be interesting to see one such course there to host F1 if it were ever to happen.
Grand Prix of New Zealand?
World Rally races in New Zealand. The Australian V8 Supercar Series has rounds in New Zealand at Hamilton and Pukekohe. One of the biggest off-road races is the Taupo 1000. There is a tough targa rally called Targa New Zealand. New Zealand was an A1GP country with races at the beautiful Taupo Motorsport Park. The Millen racing family is from New Zealand. So... what if there was an F1 Grand Prix of New Zealand? There used to be a Pacific Grand Prix in the 1990s in Japan as well as this being a non-championship race in the 1960s at Laguna Seca. Well, imagine if New Zealand joined the F1 circus. A Grand Prix race in New Zealand would be a great South Pacific F1 deal, perhaps even one that could possibly lure some New Zealanders into F1. From one website I visited, there have been eight drivers from New Zealand to compete in F1. One of the most famous was Bruce McLaren from Auckland. What if young Shane Van Gisbergen (who is also from Auckland, New Zealand) wanted to step up to Formula 1 and perhaps challenge Australia's Mark Webber for Australasian pride in F1? There is not much motor racing culture in the South Pacific besides in Australia and New Zealand. Either a modern circuit would have to be constructed, or perhaps Taupo Motorsport Park gets a whole lot of money to be renovated severely to host an F1 race. It is an FIA Grade 2 track at present.
There were some places I didn't mention. One of them was South Africa because there is a rumor that F1 may return to South Africa, but race on a street course rather than renovate Kyalami. Only street course I recall before this possible new F1 street course was in Durban with the A1 Grand Prix. So I didn't mention them. I also didn't mention a few other places because I wanted to be realistic in showcasing certain nations in motor racing.
Your comments are welcome involving the impact of Formula 1 Grands Prix for the nations that host these events. That even pertains to creating courses that would greatly compliment today's Formula 1 racing. Thank you for reading!
Qatar's Losail International Circuit is a very long and imposing racing facility mostly raced on by motorcycles. At 3.375 miles (5.380 km) in length with 16 corners, Losail History was made in 2008 as Losail hosted the first-ever MotoGP night race thanks to huge lights from Iowa-based Musco Lighting. With a lot of wide open spaces, this track is generally safe for the most part. This track plays host to lots of motorcycle racing. These range from Grand Prix events to even the 8 Hours of Doha in the FIM Endurance World Championship. The first MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar was held in 2004 with the event won by Sete Gibernau.
This blog posts concerns Qatar's racing jewel in the desert- Losail International Circuit.
--- Losail International Circuit ---
Here is a look at this Qatari roller coaster located just outside of the Qatari capital of Doha:
^ from: ridetrader.co.uk - Qatar's ultimate racing challenge- the Losail International Circuit.
Losail is basically in a desert setting. I mentioned this track has a lot of wide-open spaces. There are very few features to this course to give you any real indication of where you are on the track. Elevation changes are modest, at best. This track is almost like the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Spain in terms of being a mostly flat course. Like most desert road courses, there is artificial grass to limit the amount of sand that gets kicked around on the course. It is a real character circuit to me, devoid of any glitz and glam as with most modern Formula 1 tracks.
While the track is pretty safe for motorcycle racing, it doesn't mean this track is easy. This track is essentially in a mostly flat (some modest elevation changes), featureless setting. You don't have a whole lot of visual cues to help you carve a proper line around Losail except for the curbing on the outside and deep into the apexes of the 16 corners. The primary challenge lies in you being able to remember where you are on the track at all times. You have to really know where you are and understand what corner(s) is/are coming up. Because you don't have the luxury of a lot of environmental cues to help you determine where you are on the race track, and because the track is so long, you have to rely on your overall knowledge of the track to help get around it with great times. It is a very technical course. If you're going to win races here, you need to earn it. This track does NOT hold back or forgive easily.
Here is a video lap on a Yamaha R1 in 2007:
This is an extra video showing you what it is like for when the 8 Hours of Doha endurance race takes place around Losail International Circuit. This was from the 2009 race:
Lap Records and Times.
The lap records are as accurate as the date of this post. The lap record around this track is 1:38.699, set in 2009 by Davide Rigon in the GP2 Asia series. Jorge Lorenzo (2010 MotoGP World Champion) set a qualifying lap of 1:53.927 around Losail in 2008 (the first year MotoGP ran this track at night). Fastest in-race lap for MotoGP at Losail was set in 2008 by Australia's Casey Stoner with a time of 1:53.153. So there is some insight for you on lap times around Losail.
Dubai is one of the most impressive cities in the world. The Dubai Autodrome is just as impressive. It usually plays host to a variety of races including the 24 Hours of Dubai and various other races. It's hosted rounds to the GP2 Asia series and the now-defunct A1GP. As part of the Motor City complex, you get a nice view of downtown Dubai in a few locations (including the Burj Dubai). Like if you face the west while driving, you get a little view of downtown Dubai in the far distance after Turn 12. Perhaps the biggest characteristic of the Dubai Autodrome are all of the cranes in the distance building up Dubai and the Dubai MotorCity complex. The character of a fast-growing city makes at least today's Dubai Autodrome very interesting and intriguing. Dubai is really a city that's come from out of nowhere (since its inception in June 9, 1833) to become one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The track for the most part is complete, but there are still lots of facilities and buildings in and around the Dubai Autodrome under construction. Probably still being built as you read this blog entry. Dubai is a magnificent city, and the Dubai Autodrome is a magnificent race track.
So let's talk about the track!
--- Dubai Autodrome ---
Here is a look at the track map I'll be featuring. It is the Grand Prix circuit of Dubai: ^ from: gdecarli.it (it was the best I could find, because the others were completely useless. Then too, I didn't want to use Wikipedia images) - The 3+ mile course is very much a Grand Prix-style racing track with a wide variety of challenges. The outer perimeter of the course in red is the Dubai Autodrome Grand Prix configuration.
(most information provided by Wikipedia) The configuration I'll discuss is the Grand Prix circuit, which is 5.39 kilometers (or 3.35 miles) long. It consists of over 16 turns. The track record (according to Wikipedia) for the GP course is 1:41.220, set in 2008 by Kamui Kobayashi then racing in GP2 Asia. It's not a Hermann Tilke design. Instead, it was made by Clive Bowen. There are grassy portions of the course along with a great deal of asphalt sections.
One Lap Description.
While not the longest straight of the Grand Prix course, you start off blasting down the backstretch and into Turn 1. The road into Turn 1 goes progressively downhill. After the right-hander at Turn 1 is an easy-going set of corners. Turn 2 turns the road from a sweeping right into a sweeping left. It's a brief uphill trudge to get to Turn 3. Turn 3 is a smooth right-hander that leads into an equally smooth Turn 4. A moderately sharp left at Turn 5 is followed by a sweeping right-hand corner. It's important to get Turn 5 correct because it sets you up for Turn 6. The radius decreases sharply as you head into Turn 7 from Turn 6. A very fast left Turn 8 is followed up by a moderately sharp Turn 9. After Turn 9, it's full-speed ahead! Facing the east-northeast, you'll be pulling some of the fastest speeds you'll ever reach on track. After going full speed down the backstretch, be ready to take on the sharp right hairpin at Turn 10. A sharp left follows for Turn 11. The road leading to the much less sharp hairpin at Turn 12 features a high-speed chicane before the arrival of Turn 12, a double-apex right-hand corner. The best view of Downtown Dubai comes after clearing Turn 12 (not that this is anything important). Turn 13 is a smooth and fast left-hander. After Turn 13, however, make sure you are in good position to properly tackle Turn 14. Best to head outside heading into the corner and attack the inside. Turn 15 is a moderate sharp right-hander. Finally, the right-hander at Turn 16 awaits. The road heading into Turn 16 goes a bit downhill. Head straight for the Start/Finish line and do it all over again for however many laps or time is left!
Here is a video lap recorded back on November 27, 2009. I wanted to find the most recent usable video to showcase how this track looks:
^ (NOTE: you may need to turn the volume down if it's too loud for you.)
No doubt, this is one of the most amazing courses in the Middle East. While it may not be overly lovely and overly high-end like Bahrain or the Yas Marina Circuit, this is still a quality racing facility capable of hosting almost any kind of Grand Prix motor racing.
To learn more about the Dubai Autodrome, visit www.dubaiautodrome.com. Thank you for reading! :)
The Middle East has really come along lately in motorsport. Before hearing of tracks like Bahrain, the ONLY motorsport I've heard of in the Middle East is the Middle East Rally Championship. The most popular sport of any kind I know of in the Middle East is football (soccer). I hear of football clubs like Al Ain and Al Shabab in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). Even though I'm not a fan of Cricket, I do recall of Pakistan's cricket team. We're not talking about those sports here. Instead, this is about what kind of future Middle Eastern motorsport possibly can have in the long run.
How far can Middle East motorsports go? Is there a foreseeable future for racing in the Middle East? That's what I'll chat about and speculate in this blog entry. You're invited to offer your own input (as long as you play by the rules).
--- Motorsports in the Middle East at a Glance ---
Time to take a brief look at what the Middle East has to offer for motorsport.
Tracks of the Middle East. Most people know of the proper racing circuits in the Middle East. Formula One's history (at least in the modern era) in the Middle East began in 2004 with the Bahrain Grand Prix. The track for which to do battle on was the exciting Bahrain International Circuit. Even before and after F1's historic first-ever Grand Prix in the Middle East at the Grand Prix in Bahrain, there were tracks such as Losail and the Dubai Autodrome among others. Just last year was the first-ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Losail International Circuit in Qatar made lots of attention in MotoGP as the first-ever night race was held at the Losail International Circuit starting in 2008. Iowa-based Musco Lighting provided the lighting. Istanbul Park is one of about three known race tracks in Turkey. Istanbul Park is a lovely facility with a very competitive configuration. Bahrain and Yas Marina Circuit have played host to rounds of other series, such as the Australian V8 Supercar Series.
In addition to circuit racing, there is also drag racing that takes place in the Middle East. The Yas Marina Circuit is an ultra-modern masterpiece. Its drag strip is even an acheivement for the NHRA. There is a great link to Middle Eastern drag racing and the NHRA as Al-Anabi Racing of Qatar is leading the charge and is a great contributor to the NHRA's expansion into the Middle East. The facility looks great from videos I've seen. Almost like I'm seeing a regular round of NHRA drag racing with this facility in the UAE.
[Some of the] Current Racers in International Motorsport from the Middle East. Here are a few Middle Eastern racers:
* Kenan Sofuoglu - World Superbike racer from Turkey. * Mohammed bin Sulayem - Middle East Rally Championship racer from Kuwait. Most ever MERC wins. * Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah - Middle East Rally Championship racer from Qatar. * Mashel Al Naimi - Qatar native who races in the FIM Endurance World Championship rider of the championship-winning Qatar Endurance Racing Team. * Rashid Al Mannai - Qatar native who races in the FIM Endurance World Championship rider of the championship-winning Qatar Endurance Racing Team. * Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal - Saudi Arabian race car driver in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. * Sheikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa - Bahrain race car driver in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Those are only a few of many Middle Eastern racers.
Other Motorsport in the Middle East. The Middle East Rally Championship is the only series I've really heard of before. A handful of other racing events happen in the Middle East ranging from local events to Formula 1 and MotoGP Grands Prix. The World Rally Championship has racing events in places like Cyprus and Jordan. The Losail International Circuit also plays host to an eight-hour endurance for the FIM Endurance World Championship. Lots of racing goes on within the Middle East. The only other series I know of with racing in the Middle East is the Speedcar Series, but that series is now defunct.
--- Middle Eastern Motorsport in Pictures ---
Time to share a few pictures to prove a point. Any pictures that may be from Flickr will only take you to the Flickr album for which they come from.
^ from: automobilsport.com - a BMW 24 Coupe competing at the 2007 24 Hours of Dubai. This car would win the 2007 edition of the 24 Hours of Dubai.
^ from: lecopilote.com - a Peugeot 207 kicking up dirt in the FIA-sanctioned Middle East Rally Championship. This was from 2009 in the MERC round in Kuwait.
^ from: flickr.com (above image links to Flickr album for where it came from) - the Qatar Endurance Racing Team in the FIM Endurance World Championship. They are one of the better teams in motorcycle endurance racing.
--- How Far Can Middle Eastern Motorsport Go? ---
That depends. It looks like there is a great deal of competition already in the Middle East. There are series like the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and the FIA-sanctioned Middle East Rally Championship. I even just learned of a series called the Chevrolet Supercar Middle East Championship, which is kind of like the Australian V8 Supercar series of the Middle East, only with Chevrolet models (no Holden or Ford Australia). The cars remind me a bit of HSV Clubsport R8 models. If you're talking about international presence, however, that's where I'm curious. Could there be room for a competitive Formula 1 racer from the Middle East? Can there be some great Middle East racers in MotoGP (unless Sofuoglu wants to go to MotoGP)? Could we see some Middle East Rally Championship racers want to make an impact in the World Rally Championship? Could some Middle East racers want to race in America (like NASCAR or the IndyCar Series)?
To give you some persepective on racing in the Middle East and with racers from the Middle East, please check out these YouTube videos I've found:
^ Middle East Rally Championship round in Qatar for 2010
^ a look at racer Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal (he is the driver in the green and silver #7 Porsche)
^ The Festival of Speed at Yas Drag Racing Festival
^ QNRRC (Qatar National Road Racing Championship) race at Losail International Circuit
--- Final Thoughts ---
Whatever the future holds for Middle Eastern racing, it will be great to see a lot more competition from around the world try their hand at racing and even international racing. The success of almost any sport is for the sport to be translated and enjoyed by nations other than where the sport originated from. Basketball and football (soccer) have translated VERY well to various nations around the world. I just wonder if we'll see a better emergence of racing talent from the Middle East. Not once have I mentioned politics or conflict in this blog entry. The premise of this blog entry is on motorsport, not motorsport plus any non-motorsport issues. Even if it means that somebody like Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal wants to enter Formula One or start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, best of luck. Even if it means that even if Kenan Sofuoglu wants to challenge MotoGP in the future, best of luck to him as well. I have even mentioned in my blog entry about expanding the Asian Le Mans Series about perhaps the series looking into races across mainland Asia in addition to the current venues.
The Middle East does have something going in trying to have great racing and great racing venues. I still think the Bahrain International is a great circuit despite recent changes to it. Losail is a very tough and rather long course. The Dubai Autodrome and the Yas Marina Circuit are two spectacular world-class courses. WRC rally courses at Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey are intense courses that nicely represent the Middle East in rally racing on a global stage. The MERC has some intense desert stages. It really is interesting to envision how far Middle East motorsport can go, especially if it sustains itself for years to come. Same goes for if more Middle Eastern racers will try out motorsport around the world including within the Middle East.
That concludes another blog entry. To learn more about any of the material I've discussed, here are some links for you to visit:
Asia has a variety of tough circuits and a variety of racing series. That's why when the Asian Le Mans Series was founded, this was hope that sportscar racing in Asia can thrive. I thought this was a great opportunity for this series to showcase some of the finest tracks in Asia and among Pacific Islands. At present, the AsLMS is only a one or two race deal where winners can advance to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
^ from: endurance-info.com - the Asian Le Mans Series logo
--- My Concerns of the Asian Le Mans Series ---
I think Asia has a great variety of great racing courses. The inclusion of newer venues like the Korean International Circuit, the forthcoming future F1 Grand Prix of India course, and the unreal Yas Marina Circuit gives hope that Asia can have its fair share of Asian representation in a true international series. I want this series to thrive because I love sportscar racing and think Asia has a great variety of tracks. While I'm normally impartial to Japan, there are many other courses that are quite challenging. It all depends on how to make the series better and bring it to some level of respectability.
I'm also concerned about not enough support. Sportscar racing is an expensive deal, though not as much as the exorbitant budgets and expenses of Formula 1. Some of the prototypes from the former Japan Le Mans Challenge were mostly formula cars with some extra bodywork to them to turn them into prototypes. I think there was a Mugen-sponsored team that had their own Courage LC75. And when I heard of how one race ended up, a depressing 12 entries raced in the JLMC for a race. It can be tough trying to invite other teams from other series to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series. This is unless there are teams willing to test some of Asia's better race tracks. The best sportscar-type racing in Asia is in Japan's Super GT series. So if there was a way to get more involvement, it would help to expand the series. I would most be happy if an average of at least 20 to 25 cars fill the grid for each race.
--- Tracks to Consider ---
I've mentioned that Asia has a great variety of tracks. To prove the point, I'll mention a variety of courses that I think would make a true championship of Asian sportscar racing. This may even include a non-Asian venue. This section of the blog is perhaps the real heart of what I've wanted to discuss. So have a good read!
Track Basics. The basics for me is that you have to have a good variety of courses in Japan and mainland Asia. How do you accomplish this? That will depend on the Asian Le Mans Series' management. Only two races have been either raced on or would-have-been raced on for the series- Shanghai International Circuit and Okayama International Circuit (which I've always known as TI Circuit Aida).
In addition, I'd like to see a combination of venues comprising four key sectors: * Japan/Korea Republic/China * Southeast Asia * South Asia * Middle East (excluding Egypt)
These are really the four sectors that I know have motor racing tracks. The venues don't all have to be FIA-quality racing courses. You'll see in my next section that there are many courses that would be great for racing for this series.
--- Building a Worthy Championship Schedule (Part 1 of 2): What Kind of Championship? ---
I'm thinking too much about the American Le Mans Series format, where you have a series of sprint races and races longer than two hours and 45 minutes. Or maybe the Asian Le Mans Series wants to be like the Le Mans Series in Europe, where the championship is almost exclusively endurance racing. My inclination is that the Asian Le Mans Series is more like the Asian counterpart of the Le Mans Series rather than the American Le Mans Series' sprint and endurance races.
The next part features a model if it were more like the American Le Mans Series. So read on!
--- Building a Worthy Championship Schedule (Part 2 of 2): Picking Venues ---
Now let's talk about what tracks would make for great Asian Le Mans Series venues. I'm going to go by the four sectors I've mentioned. I'll also chat about if there are certain races that can be attempted for each track to make the series complete. And if I don't mention any specific race ideas, assume the race will last for 2 hours and 45 minutes, like American Le Mans Series sprint races.
--- East Asia (Japan, Korea Republic, and China) ---
This section concerns racing venues that would be great for the series to at least consider adding to a schedule for a true sportscar racing championship for the Asian Le Mans Series. To me, this is the most important sector for one reason- Japan. If you don't utilize Japan, you're not going to have a whole lot of race venues to race at. A proper championship will have to include a mix of Japanese venues along with mainland Asian venues. Because Okayama has been raced on before for the Asian Le Mans Series, I won't include it. So here are some ideas:
Suzuka Circuit.
Possible Races: 12 hours, 1000 km, or a 2hr 45min race Suzuka is better known in the endurance scene for the Suzuka 8 Hour race for motorcycles. Suzuka Circuit is the most rewarding and challenging race course in Japan. It may arguably be the best race track in the Asia-Pacific. I'm telling you... Suzuka is can't-miss. If you want intense racing on a great race track, you'd be foolish to pass up on Suzuka. This can be an afternoon race that lasts into the early evening, or it can be a race later in the afternoon and winds its way into evening or even night. A second race of 2:45:00 can be added to give this track some more racing love.
Fuji International Speedway.
Possible race: Fuji 1000 km To accomodate Formula 1, the classic configuration of this storied race track was altered severely, sapping the former Fuji configuration of its high-speed character. The super-long front stretch and most of the first half of the course remain intact. Think about if this track hosted a field of some 30+ cars for an intense 1000-kilometer race here. My vision is maybe 30 (or MAYBE 40+) entrants encompassing a field of prototype and GT cars competiting around this intense race course for 1,000 kilometers.
Autopolis.
Possible race: 2hr 45 min race Autopolis was a prospective candidate to host the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Those dreams back in 1992 or 1993 were dashed for this track on the Japanese island of Kyushu. This track is very well appointed to host an F1 Grand Prix, but it was just never used as an F1 venue. In the 2003 season of Japan's Super GT championship, this track was raced on by the (then) JGTC as the penultimate round of the 2003 championship before the finale at Suzuka. I belive it was Michael Krumm who described Autopolis as a Japanese Nürburgring. This would be a lovely venue for which to host a round of the Asian Le Mans Series.
Twin Ring Motegi (Road Course).
Possible Races: 2 hr 45 min race, or maybe a 3-hour race Twin Ring Motegi is one of few road courses in the world that has an oval configuration, but doesn't physically use the oval portion. Motegi is anything but easy. Most of the course has subtle elevation changes with some slow corners. This course has been raced on by a variety of series both in Japan and by international series. Motegi has been used before for endurance racing competition in the Japan Le Mans Challenge, so why not feature this course for a championship?
Sugo.
Possible Races: 6 hour race, 1000 km race, or 2hr 45 min race The beautiful Miyagi Prefecture of Japan features the Sugo international racing circuit. I personally confuse Sugo with Okayama as far as configuration is concerned. That's because both tracks are somewhat similar in configuration, though Okayama is longer (I think). This is a plenty challenging course that isn't severely difficult. High speeds and a nice overall rhythm make this course a great one.
Korean International Circuit.
Possible Races: 2hr 45 min race, or maybe a 6-hour race. The brand-new Korean International Circuit would be a great track to consider for mainland Asia racing. I usually regard F1 highly. So for this reason, I am not sure if you'd schedule this on the same weekend as the Korean Grand Prix or if you hold it some time before or after that race. I still want to see how this course plays out when the F1 Grand Prix of Korea begins proper.
Everland Speedway.
Possible Races: 2hr 45 min race At 1.320 miles in length, Everland is only an extra tenth longer than Tsukuba. Everland Speedway is a part of the massive Everland Resort theme park. It is South Korea's first-ever motor racing track. While it is in no way an international racing facility, this can still be a great short course to contest a sprint race.
Shanghai International Circuit.
Possible Races: 6 hours, 1000 km, or 2hr 45 min Shanghai has been raced on as an AsLMS venue. This is a course designed to wear you out as you wind your way around the course. The backstretch of the Grand Prix course will give you the case of the leadfoot. However, be ready to take on that super-slow chicane confidently at the end!
Zhuhai International Circuit.
Possible Races: 3-hours or 2hr 45 min. While not as glamourous or expensive-looking as its Shanghai counterpart, the Zhuhai International Circuit features an intense challenge for all who take on this challenge. This is a tricky Chinese course with some technical corners.
Beijing Goldenport Circuit.
Possible races: 2hr 45 min The very popular Goldenport course is not too far from the Chinese capital of Beijing. It is a pretty simple road course in design. There aren't a lot of extremely difficult corners here.
That concludes this section. I didn't include Tsukuba because I don't think Tsukuba, while a great track, isn't interesting enough to host a round of the Asian Le Mans Series, especially with 30+ entries.
--- Southeast Asia ---
There aren't too many true international courses in Southeast Asia, but there are a good deal of great racing courses in Southeast Asia.
Sepang International Circuit.
Possible Races: 1000 km, or a 2hr 45 min race This track serves as the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix. It's been raced on by cars and motorcycles of various kinds. Sepang was going to be the venue for an American Le Mans Series all-star race in the 2000 season, but that was cancelled. The biggest obstacles for this course are the weather conditions. Temperatures can be very warm and rain can be horrendous. Anyone who remembers the 2009 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix know full well as to how miserable weather can get there. But still, it's a great racing track.
Johor Circuit.
Possible race: 2hr 45 min A former stop on the World Superbike circuit in 1992 and 1993, Malaysia's Johor Circuit boasts a very competitive road course that would be great for sportscar racing.
(whatever becomes of the proposed permanent race course in Changi, Singapore.)
If the deal is still on, the city-state of Singapore can play host to a nice race at the proposed permanent race course in Singapore. It isn't likely the Marina Bay street course would be a good host to the Asian Le Mans Series as it is with F1, but it would also be interesting to see this course featured.
Bira International Circuit.
Possible Race: 2hr 45 min This course in Thailand has a nice configuration and is pretty competitive. It would be great hearing the roar of these sportscars around a wicked course like the Bira International Circuit.
Thailand Circuit.
Possible race: 2hr 45 min This is another non-international circuit with a very nice design. It is officially known as the Nakhornchaisri Motor Sports Complex, boasting a 1.553 mile configuration.
Batangas Racing Circuit.
Possible Races: 1000 km or 2hr 45 min race The Batangas Racing Circuit features a 1.7 mile road course and a 2.2 mile extended road course. Both configurations are quite intense and would be great for some sportscar racing. The course in the Philippines is a real gem of a course even if it isn't an FIA-quality course.
Subic International Raceway.
Possible races: ??? Near Subic Bay in the Philippines, the Subic International Raceway is a permanent race course at almost 1.9 miles in length. It has a pretty cool configuration if you look it up online.
Sentul International Circuit.
Possible Races: 6 hours, 2hr 45 min The Sentul Circuit in Indonesia boasts a lovely configuration and was prospective of a non-Japanese F1 race event. It held a nice race in 2006 for the A1 Grand Prix. Absolutely nothing wrong with this course. It's a lovely course which would provide some great racing. Maybe the loveliest Southeast Asian course that isn't Sepang.
That concludes Southeast Asia. I've personally almost forgot Sentul.
--- South Asia (mostly India) ---
This only includes India and two tracks I know of in India.
Irungattukottai.
Possible Race: 2hr. 45 min The Madras Motor Sports Club is what this course is known as. It boasts a full course that is 2.299 miles in length with an intense configuration. Madras Motor Sports Club is the name of this course... unless Irungattukottai is easier for you to remember. This track can be found in Chennai, India.
Coimbatore (officially known as Kari Memorial Speedway, or Kari Motor Speedway).
Possible race: 2hr 45 min (?) Opened in 2003, the Kari Memorial Speedway in Coimbatore, India boasts a competitive 1.4 mile course. This course was built in loving memory of Sundaram Karivardhan, or affectionately known as "Kari." I'm not sure about huge fields of cars on a 1.4 mile track, but it is a pretty interesting course.
Jaypee Group Circuit.
Possible Races: 2hr 45 min, and ??? This new racing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India will play hose to the Formula 1 Grand Prix of India in 2011. The 3.147-mile course will be part of a massive sporting and residental complex in the area.
(Jaypee Group Circuit has been officially named as Buddh International Circuit. That's why I changed the name.)
That's all for this section.
--- Middle East (excluding Egypt) ---
The final piece of the puzzle would be some Middle Eastern venues.
Istanbul Park.
Possible Races: 1000 km, 6 hours, or 2hr 45min Istanbul Park is home to the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey. The course has a nice rhythm overall. I actually like this track. It has seen racing to a variety of series ranging from F1 to DTM to even a round of the Le Mans Series among many others. If car counts are low, it could be possible to have the LMS and Asian Le Mans Series to take to the track for great racing.
Bahrain International Cirucit.
Possible Races: 2hr 45 min or 1000 km The Bahrain International Circuit is one of the most intense courses in the world. This one is a very cool course. Today's Bahrain course is DRAMATICALLY different as it's been lengthened considerably with more corners. It's still a tough course.
Losail International Circuit.
Possible Races: 2hr 45 min Qatar's Losail International Circuit is an intense course in its own right. It has become a head-turner when MotoGP raced this course under lots of MUSCO lighting towers. It is a very long course with some tricky corners. It would be great to see how sportscar teams from the Asian Le Mans Series would fare around this course.
Dubai Autodrome.
Possible Races: 12 hours, 1000 km, or 2hr 45 min The Dubai Autodrome is part of the Dubai Motor City complex. It has played host to a variety of different racing series, including its own 24-hour endurance. Certain views of the Dubai Autodrome offer a beautiful look at downtown Dubai in the distance. This course in the United Arab Emirates is a lovely facility.
Yas Marina Circuit.
Possible Races: 12 hours, 1000 km, or 2hr 45 min The Yas Marina Circuit is a very contemporary masterpiece. It has the scenery and such of a street course with all the lights and the boats on the harbor. It is a fantastic-looking course whether in daylight or at night. A lot of the painted runoff areas are reminiscent of Circuit Paul Ricard in France. This would be great for sportscar racing, even if not by the Asian Le Mans Series. For all the scenery and facilities, this United Arab Emirates course blows away the Dubai Autodrome. Both are still great courses.
--- Non-Asian Venues? ---
I don't think the Asian Le Mans Series would want to try any international markets outside of Asia. But if they did, here is a brief list of venues that would be interesting to see these cars race at:
* Eastern Creek (Australia) * Calder Park (Australia) * Phillip Island (Australia) * Taupo Motorsport Park (New Zealand) * Laguna Seca (California, USA) * Portland International Raceway (Oregon, USA) * Kyalami (South Africa) * Monza (Italy) * Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico)
--- What Would Be a Dream ___ for the Asian Le Mans Series? ---
...a Dream Field...?
I want to imagine anywhere between 20 to 30 cars taking the field. This can consist of Asian teams, but also European and American teams. Anything to keep the count going up and to build interest to expand the series.
...a Dream Schedule...?
This all depends on what the Asian Le Mans Series is after. Is it a series that wants only endurance races or a combination of sprint and endurance races? You would need to signify key races if you have a combination of signature races. An endurance-specific season means that there will be fewer races than the sprint/endurance model. The schedules I've set up allow for racing in Asia including Pacific islands. I don't have dates set up because I didn't want to be TOO specific in picking these events. Here are a few models based on both the endurance and sprint/endurance combinations:
...Endurance Schedule.
* Suzuka (12hr, 1000 km) * Fuji (1000 km) * Shanghai or Zhuhai * Sepang * Yas Marina Circuit or Dubai Autodrome
...Sprint/Endurance Schedule.
(the designation of (E) signifies an endurance) * Suzuka (E) * Korean International Circuit * Fuji (E) * Shanghai International Circuit (or Zhuhai or Goldenport) * Sentul * Sepang (E) * Batangas Extended Circuit (or Subic Bay) * Irungattukottai (or a non-Asian venue) * Dubai Autodrome (or Yas Marina Circuit, or Bahrain Int'l, or Losail) * Okayama (E?)
Those models are only conceptual. I just think there has to be a good balance of Japanese and non-Japanese Asian venues. Maybe even try some international rounds to add some diversity.
All in all, I want the Asian Le Mans Series to be as strong as the American Le Mans Series and Europe's Le Mans Series. Have you any suggestions or comments to my blog entry? PLEASE comment and question! Give my blog some involvement, please!
