Fast cars and F1 in Abu Dhabi
Desert Arabs loved fast falcons and fast Arabian horses . . . and today's Emirati love fast sports - and fast and radical cars. Cars, cars, cars . . . in and around Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
BIG RED'S RIDES & RECORDS
The biggest (and reddest) indoor theme park in the world blends fast Ferrari-flavoured rides with displays that tell the story of this remarkable marque's history.
It all sits, air-conditioned, on Yas Island, under a 200,000sqm roof which, incidentally, uses enough aluminium to cover 16,750 Ferraris (and took 14 months to clad).
On one hand there are displays such as Galleria Ferrari, with a 326km/h Ferrari F40 designed for the company's 40th anniversary, and Michael Schumacher's 2000 F1 car. There are displays such as The Racing Legends, and a chance to sit before a big screen "Driving with the Champion". On Viaggio in Italia, the rows of seats soar under a big dome as their inhabitants fly over Italian mountains and villages, cities and winding roads.
On the other hand, for thrillseekers, there is Formula Rossa, the fastest rollercoaster in the world, which accelerates from 0 to 240km/h in under five seconds and pulls 4.8Gs. There's the Scuderia Challenge, a race simulator that takes on a virtual form of the Yas Marina F1 Circuit. And there's the Fiorano GT Challenge, a ride simulating two competing Ferrari F430 Spiders.
And dotted throughout the complex are Ferraris, Ferraris, Ferraris.
It is AED240 ($72) all-day entry for guests 1.3m and above, AED195 for those who are shorter, and in busy times it might be worth paying AED440 for Premium admission (for those more than 1.3m), which has fast-track lanes to avoid queues.
ferrariworldabudhabi.com.
THE NATIONAL AUTO MUSEUM
It is an unusual and eclectic, hands-on automobile collection. Behind the 1885 Mercedes with its three-spoked wheels is a big Kenworth truck. The radical, sparkling Shoujaa 2000, which was made in 1988 in the UAE, is near a Daimler Ferret military scout vehicle made in the UK in 1960. There's a 1987 Lamborghini Cheetah and then a Nissan 8x8 - modified to eight-wheeled all-wheel-drive.
There are rows of Minis, and Land Rovers (including an armoured one), a few Volkswagen Beetles, and a massive Dodge the size of a small house. Outside is the world's biggest two-wheel caravan, with eight bedrooms and bathrooms and four garages. Welcome to Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan's Emirates National Auto Museum, 40 minutes south of Abu Dhabi on the road to Liwa Oasis. The entrance fee of AED50 takes you into an eclectic, whimsical world of car collecting, where oversized muscle cars (even a jacked-up Mercedes 124) live alongside such elegance as the 1950 Chevrolet 3100.
enam.ae.
F1 AT YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
When Formula 1 comes to Abu Dhabi in November, it completely consumes Yas Island. Over three days, there is practice, qualifying and the race itself, of course, but then there are concerts and other events.
It all adds up to a full-on party. "Monaco on steroids," as one local describes it to me. It is said that last year, 35 of the world's 45 most- expensive private yachts were berthed in the marina.
The 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on November 21-23 this year. From a hotel such as the Crowne Plaza, with its 428 rooms and suites, it's easy to walk into the circuit, and generally join the party.
And the tip is that the Ferrari team stays at Crowne Plaza, too. (Generally at the Crowne Plaza you might typically find a superior room from AED360 per night.)
Three-day admission with an allocated grandstand seat this year is from AED2080 (and there's plenty included apart from the circuit action).
yasmarinacircuit.ae.
SEEN IT, NOW DRIVE IT
Having seen it, visitors can also drive it. Yas Marina Circuit offers driving and passenger experiences. Five Aston Martin Vantages sit in the garage ready to go (from AED1500 to drive, AED750 to be a passenger), and there's a row of Formula 3000s - a competitive single-seater (AED1500 to drive).
There are many other options and vehicles, including a hot lap in the Mercedes AMG Safety Car, from AED400.
yasmarinacircuit.ae.
FACT FILE
Etihad Airways flies direct between Perth and Abu Dhabi, and then connects to what is expected to be 102 destinations by the end of 2014. etihad.com.
For more information on visiting Abu Dhabi, go to visitabudhabi.ae.
Stephen Scourfield was a guest of Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Tourism.
