Abu Dhabi track gets final FIA approval

With work on schedule at the track ahead of its inaugural event on November 1, the last major hurdle was for it to pass the pre-event track inspection ahead of the forthcoming GP2 test and F1 race.

Richard Cregan, the Yas Marina Circuit's CEO, told AUTOSPORT that he was happy with the progress being made to prepare the track - as focus shifted to the first official track action in a fortnight with a GP2 test on the weekend before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"Everything is going well," he explained. "We've had a couple of handovers, and that's the process we're in at the moment, as I call it a 'shakedown' of the circuit.

"The thing is it's such a complex facility, so many buildings, so many elements to it of how technical the circuit is, so we're going through it step by step. The good thing is we're now doing that, and the first big step for us will be the GP2 test, which will be great."

Speaking about Whiting's final inspection, Cregan said: "Charlie came on Monday and everything he had asked for previously was done. He's also coming here for the GP2 test, which is a great help for us.

"We'll have a lot of the grand prix weekend marshals here on that weekend as well, so that will be a good test for the system, the people, car recovery, all of those things."

* AUTOSPORT will soon bring you a full exclusive look behind the scenes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as excitement builds ahead of its first F1 race.