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Ahead of the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, the management of the Yas Marina Circuit have shared how they are preparing for the sell-out, capacity crowd of 60,000 local and international fans that will be attending the race.

For months, Yas Marina Circuit staff and specialist contractors have been busy ensuring yet another spectacular weekend of entertainment and sporting action awaits at the 2015 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the climax to the F1 season.

Catering for hungry race goers means that food and drink is high on the agenda.

In both the grandstand and corporate hospitality areas (excluding the Paddock), a team of more than 1,900 staff will be on hand to ensure stomachs are well fed, and they will serve almost 30,000 meals to the public, while staff themselves will consume more than 12,000 meals to keep them fully fuelled for the mammoth task of feeding 60,000 people from more than 170 countries.

The task of moving the Formula 1 machine from country to country has seen the F1 teams’ equipment arrive from Brazil on six special charter flights, with each flight laden with more than 90 tonnes of Formula 1® gear.

In addition to the airfreight, Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port has been handling 140 containers filled with extra kit so that the F1, GP2 and GP3 teams are fully prepared to put on yet another thrilling display of motorsport action during race weekend.

More than 400 logistics contractors, using 60 forklift trucks at Yas Marina Circuit alone, have coordinated this huge operation – a combined air and sea freight totalling 750 tonnes.

Guests will enjoy more F&B options than in previous years, with 56 outlets – a mix of mobile kitchens, concessions and bars, as well as the new after-party venue, MAD.

Maintenance of the circuit has been in progress for months.

A team of gardeners has been working constantly to lay 75 acres of landscaped grass, and plant a total of 715 palm trees and 150,000 flowers in preparation for the event.

One of the final tasks before race weekend is to put the finishing touches to the landmark 5.5 kilometre track.

The prominent ‘Yas’ blue colour paint that adorns the track was chosen as the shade most closely resembling the seas of the Arabian Gulf. Called pantone 321, the colour is unqiue to Yas Marina Circuit.

A team of six specialist contractors have laid a total of 8,550 litres of paint to ensure the track looks its best. The paint is water-based, which is suitable for Abu Dhabi’s dry conditions, and the team will apply 4,500 litres of ‘Yas blue’ paint, 720 litres of ivory, 1,440 litres of red and 1,440 litres of white paint.

The track’s distinctive white edging is the last part of the painting process. These lines must be painted four times, meaning the painting contractors will have to cover a distance of 26 kilometres, including pit lane lines, applying about 450 litres of white paint.

Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, the Yas Marina Circuit is home to not only the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but also an extensive year-round program of professional and grassroots motorsport events and experiences including Drag and Yas Track Nights.

The circuit has emerged as a thriving hub for entertainment and community events and is a leading MICE venue, regularly hosting a diverse range of corporate meetings, conferences and events.

For more information go to www.yasmarinacircuit.com

Images: Yas Marina Circuit during the 2013  Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (top) and paddock preparation and grounds maintenance work at the circuit (middle and below).

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