This weekend’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will host the largest crowd in its history, with the event selling 60,000 tickets to the Formula One race at Yas Marina Circuit.
Last year 55,000 tickets were sold. This crowd will be able to watch the conclusion to the F1 season, as Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg battle it out for the top spot.
“With all the tickets now sold out, we can officially say that the 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is going to be bigger than ever before,” said Al Tareq Al Ameri, chief executive of Yas Marina Circuit.
Rosberg’s recent victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix brought him within 17 points of Hamilton, the championship leader, to set up an exciting showdown on Sunday.
“The demand has been unprecedented, locally and internationally, and the atmosphere in the stands is going to be fantastic,” Mr Al Ameri said. “The F1 [drivers’] championship has come down to the wire, and people can’t wait to see the champion crowned right here in Abu Dhabi.”
The F1 weekend also includes a programme of entertainment including international music acts, roaming entertainment, games, theatre and heritage activities.
“The F1 weekend is about more than great motor racing action,” Mr Al Ameri said. “It’s Abu Dhabi’s premier social event of the year, a three-day carnival of live entertainment and activities for the whole family.
The DJ Armin Van Buuren, the R&B musician Pharrell Williams and the British rock band The Who will play the post-race concerts.
Celebrities on hand at Du Arena on Thursday will include the Egyptian movie star Tamer Hosny, the singer and award-winning Lebanese actress Carole Samaha, the Emirati singer Faiz Al Saeed, and the Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf of Arab Idol fame.
“There’s going to be so much going on around the circuit,” Mr Al Americ said. “We’ve made it even more of a spectacle this year and we have made sure there’s something for everyone, and with more people attending than ever before you can be sure of an incredible atmosphere throughout the venue.”
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