V8 Supercar drivers Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, Mark Winterbottom and Paul Dumbrell to a man have been ‘blown away’ during a lightning tour of Abu Dhabi and the Yas Marina Circuit where the Championship opens the 2010 season next month.

The four split their pre-season preparation to make the trip on Etihad Airways for the promotional component prior to the event with four days of water sports, track days, cultural visits, mixing it with Australian delegates and expatriates – topped off by a ride in a Minardi Formula One two-seater.
 
It also gave them all a sneak peak at what is to come next month at the billion dollar circuit which they believe will surprise the entire V8 Supercar field.

The following is what they had to say, starting with their host – Yas Marina Circuit CEO Richard Cregan.

RICHARD CREGAN, CEO, YAS MARINA CIRCUIT:
“We have to show a bit of hospitality for the guys coming from Australia to the UAE and Abu Dhabi is pretty good at making people welcome. This event next month is something special that we are able to blend too different cultures and nationalities – Aussies with Emiratis – and we are very proud of that.

“We have one of the best circuits in the World here and we choose events to compliment that and add credibility to the venue. You look at Formula One and then the next best thing is Aussie V8 Supercars. It’s up there, it has the following, is a great crowd puller and a very open sport for the people. We have a big expat community here and it’s one way of getting to our goal of building a motorsport culture in the UAE.

“We need the top sportsmen in there field and these races pull crowds of some 300,000 at some events in Australia which is something we can only dream of at the moment. But, if we can get some of their help from these guys, we can work towards our goals.

“The guys had a good few days here; we’ve given them some good UAE hospitality which is always great in the Emirates. Today we were able to get them something new and that was a ride in our F1 two seater. It’s pretty interesting seeing guys who race door to door every day then getting in an F1 car and being nervous about it.

“Then getting out having had a fantastic time, all smiles and something they will never forget. It’s nice to give them something that they will not get anywhere else, that’s Yas Marina Circuit.

“I encourage all Aussies to be here for the race weekend, you have to be here. The ones who can’t make it we will get some good TV for them. We are very proud of this event and hope to make them proud.”

JAMIE WHINCUP, TEAMVODAFONE, 2009 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPION

On Yas Marina Circuit:
“It’s clearly probably the most expensive track in the world and an awesome facility. I just can’t wait to get home to get prepared and I can’t wait to tell people about it. It’s an extremely technical track. If people ask me what is the most technical part of the track I’ll be telling them from turn one right the way around to the last turn. It’s turn after turn, good straights, good corners … it’s got a bit of everything.”

On Abu Dhabi:
“When you look at Abu Dhabi from a distance you see the great infrastructure but you don’t understand what it’s all about. For me to do the things I love and mix it in with all of the attractions it’s just an unbelievable place. I’ll be going home to tell my friends they have to get over here and do it. The whole four days has been an amazing experience.”

On the Formula One experience:
“I had most of the way to think about it and I set an expectation having talked to a few guys about what an F1 car is all about. I’m not over exaggerating but I doubled it. The braking and the whole experience was unbelievable. We came over here to do four days work and have a bit of fun but that was a life experience."


MARK WINTERBOTTOM, FORD PERFORMANCE RACING

“This really is an amazing place and I hope we get the message to the people back home and all over the world to come here because the experience we have had, the way people have treated us and the amazing time we have had.

“The track is really, good, really fast in spots and very technical in others. The grip level seems quite high but until you get in your own car it will be a little hard to tell. The corkscrew is going to be challenging. I’ve always wanted to go to Laguna Seca for the corkscrew but now I don’t have to worry.

“The circuit has got a lot of character and I think the V8s are going to be really good around here. There are spots where we can pass and they way we race if you can pass at 300km an hour down the back straight under lights with people hanging off the balconies it will be incredible.”

On the Formula One experience:
“That’s amazing. To ever think you would get in a Formula One car I never thought I would do it. To do that was mind blowing. I could have done another 20 laps, it was awesome. I really appreciate what an F1 car is. There are only four of us who got to do it from 29 drivers so we’ll be rubbing it in when we get back home.”


PAUL DUMBRELL, THEBOTTLO RACING

On Abu Dhabi:
“It was a phenomenal experience that’s for sure. This far surpasses anything I have experience in this region and one of the best places in the world. From what we have learnt from the plans here in the next five years it’s going to be the best place in the world.

“What they are doing with motorsport and the complex here makes me very proud that I got to see it. I hope we come back for many years to come.”

On the Yas Marina Circuit:
“We watched the F1 race so we had a fair idea what the track was like. But coming here to see the facilities and the infrastructure it just blows you away. And then you get down to the track. It’s such a challenging track. You got the corkscrew and undulation which is like our cherished Bathurst track, then there’s a bit of Indy and a bit of Adelaide. It’s going to be pretty interesting racing topped off by this famous pit lane.”

WILL DAVISON, TOLL HOLDEN RACING TEAM

On Abu Dhabi:
“We have had an absolute ball and I can’t wait to get back here. Everything in this part of the world is never done in halves so it’s bigger and better than everything. The development for the future is incredible. It’s just mind-blowing. It’s a desert they are turning into paradise but I’ll certainly be back here for holidays.

“We were very fortunate to get in the F1 two seater which has always been a great passion of mine from my open wheeler career. Now I’m very focused on my career in V8 Supercars but I still wake up every morning picturing driving the Formula One car that I drove in 2004. I never thought Id get the chance to do it again. I got just as much enjoyment out of seeing these boys jump in and get half a taste of what it is like. I was prepared for it and it was very enjoyable but it’s still a massive thrill.”

On the Yas Marina Circuit:
“Damn, it’s technical. I’m making some notes for myself and preparing four our race but until we get out there in our cars I’m not 100 per cent sure how it’s going to be. I’m going to have a good think about it but there are certainly some sections that are puzzling me.

“There are some fast corners where you are going to be brave and there are some technical corners. The corkscrew is completely blind, never did I imagine it was going to be like that – you can’t see anything at all. The racing is going to be unbelievable.”

More pictures from the trip:


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