ABU DHABI F1 RACE SET TO BE DAY-NIGHT AFFAIR

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November is
set to be the first day-night race in Formula 1 history, it has emerged.

To be held on Nov 1 at the 5.5km track on Yas Island, race organisers said
the final event in F1 2009 calendar was to start at 5pm and end under
floodlights a few hours later.

Richard Cregan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, the race
organiser, said the first ever day-and-night race would offer the unique
opportunity to demonstrate the circuit's inbuilt flexibility and
state-of-the-art facilities.

The National daily quoted him as saying that the Yas Marina Circuit had been
built from the outset to host day and night-time activities.

"It's the best of both worlds," he said of the fact that the stunning
architecture of the circuit could be experienced by spectators and television
viewers during the afternoon sunlight and when the floodlights were on.
-- BERNAMA