Yas Marina Circuit
Discussion
Me and the wife are going to Abu Dhabi for 10 days in October to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We both fancy a track day experience that are advertised on their company website. I am too tall for the Formula 3000 option so probably the V8 Aston or Jaguar F-Type.
Any tips or issues from other peoples experiences?
Any tips or issues from other peoples experiences?
They still have the radicals, but they dont advertise them. If you ring up and ask they can probably do it. (the cars do still go around).
Whilst the Aston GT4 is no single seater / radical.....its a brilliant car, better than the Jag or the Merc that they offer. Its a proper racing car, not a road car doing corporate events.
I'd happily take the Aston, if you cant get the radical.
The other option that a few people do is tie up with a trackday....ring AUH (in dubai), they will rent you a radical and run it for you at the trackday. Might suit you more than your wife? Something to consider.
Also be aware, you are unilkely to drive the full GP circuit....it will be a sub circuit (North config most likely), still good but no full GP.
Whilst the Aston GT4 is no single seater / radical.....its a brilliant car, better than the Jag or the Merc that they offer. Its a proper racing car, not a road car doing corporate events.
I'd happily take the Aston, if you cant get the radical.
The other option that a few people do is tie up with a trackday....ring AUH (in dubai), they will rent you a radical and run it for you at the trackday. Might suit you more than your wife? Something to consider.
Also be aware, you are unilkely to drive the full GP circuit....it will be a sub circuit (North config most likely), still good but no full GP.
Than 'H'. I recently sold my DB9 which I have for a number of years and tracked it a few times so scratched the Aston itch. I have also had 5 Jags with my last one being the XKR. I almost bought the F-Type 'S' but a manual DB9 coupe came along so it will be fun to throw the baby Jag around.
Pity about the GP circuit... I was expecting to drive the full circuit.
Pity about the GP circuit... I was expecting to drive the full circuit.
Harris_I said:
If you're doing this in summer, the Aston's AC is a b/tch. Blows hot air at you whenever you accelerate (ie 90% of the time). Also it's a bit crude for a proper race car and they leave the traction control on which is quite intrusive. The Radical is in a different league entirely.
Like I posted above - "I have booked 2 x Jaguar F-Type 'S' for me and the wife".No problem. I already read that. 
Sometimes it's helpful for others doing a search in future to leave some relevant info as I used to instruct there. I'm sure you'll have a blast.
I was responding to the view that the Aston is a proper race car. To me the GT4 felt like a road car with some go-faster bits. If I were doing an experience day - and on the basis I can always take a road car on track at a public track day (they all feel the same on track) - I'd go all out for slicks and wings (appreciate you are restricted due to height so this doesn't apply in your case). If anything the Radicals were more mental than the single seaters.
HTH.
Sometimes it's helpful for others doing a search in future to leave some relevant info as I used to instruct there. I'm sure you'll have a blast.I was responding to the view that the Aston is a proper race car. To me the GT4 felt like a road car with some go-faster bits. If I were doing an experience day - and on the basis I can always take a road car on track at a public track day (they all feel the same on track) - I'd go all out for slicks and wings (appreciate you are restricted due to height so this doesn't apply in your case). If anything the Radicals were more mental than the single seaters.
HTH.
One more thing - doing the whole GP circuit is too much to take in in one short experience session, so don't worry you've missed out. The North Circuit with the long F1 Straight is good for outright speed and to experience downforce on cars that have it, the South Circuit is more technical and fun for the blind right handers round the Marina and then the experience of driving under the hotel. Either way you can't go wrong.
Judging by the info on the Yas website, looks like the Radicals are passenger rides only - likely due to the number of near misses instructors have had with novices behind the wheel. I did it once eons ago, and even though I've had a number of track experiences in my time, found it challenging to keep abreast of what I should be doing.
F-Type should be a giggle though.
Looks like Dragon Racing are offering up drives in their 458s now too - much better shout than the Aston!
F-Type should be a giggle though.
Looks like Dragon Racing are offering up drives in their 458s now too - much better shout than the Aston!
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