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The new Yas Marina circuit, purpose-built for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is a stunning place.
The 5.5km track also includes the iconic five-star Yas Marina Hotel (pictured below at both day and night) which straddles part of the circuit, and a 60-metre solar-power Sun Tower.
The Moodie Report attended the big race today, along with many executives from the travel retail industry. It was a spectacular affair, which began in bright Arabian sunshine at 5p.m. and ended under a full moon with a one-two triumph for the Red Bull team of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
Guests in the Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME) suite had the chance to drive a simulator version of the McLaren Mercedes car used by Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen. Two lesser-known racing aces (below) tried their luck, one from a certain Middle East retail company and the other synonymous with this Blog. Both managed the hitherto impossible feat of making the car go backwards.
A large DFS contingent was present including Chairman Ed Brennan,a keen motor-racing buff and his lovely wife Debbie (below).
Dufry’s man in Sharjah, Eric van der Veen (below) was looking relaxed, not surprisinglygiven that he was in the company of his wife to be, Nadine Blackwood.
It was a great day at a great circuit. Make no mistake, Abu Dhabi has truly arrived on the Formula 1 circuit. It is the world that will now be playing catch-up.
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