SNEAK PEAK // 2009 ABU DHABI GP

With the final round of the 2008 Formula One season right around the corner, we thought we’d shed some light on where F1 intends to end its 2009 season. For the last few years, Brazil marked the end of the F1 calendar, and often the end of the line for title hopes. But next year, Brazil is marked to be the penultimate round, with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking it’s spot at the end of the calendar. A handful of Formula One teams had a chance to preview the track this week, via digital recreations and scale models, and thus far, are pleased with what they see. Designed by the same gentleman behind the Bahrain, Sepang and Valencia tracks, Abu Dhabi’s new circuit has everything we would expect from a Middle East venue, loads of overkill. The new course will run through a hotel, incorporate a pit lanes that runs under the track, and will feature an impressive 20 turns, not to mention being surrounded by ‘Ferrari World.’ Sitting waterside at the Yas Island Marina, next years final round should be an impressive one... // 11.01.2008