Organisers gear up for Formula 1 with tickets expected to sell out

ABU DHABI // Organisers of this year’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are confident the race will sell out regardless of whether the drivers’ championship is decided before the final race of the season, from November 27-29.

Tickets for the event at Yas Marina Circuit went on sale on Sunday as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the final round of the F1 season for the fourth time since the inaugural event in 2009.

The final race last year was won by Lewis Hamilton, giving the Mercedes GP driver a second world championship title. The event was watched by more than 450 million people.

“We are delighted to be entering our seventh year on the F1 calendar and we are expecting demand to be at an all-time high following our record breaking sell-out event of 2014,” said Al Tareq Al Ameri, chief executive of Yas Marina Circuit.

“Last year was a tremendous success and we are looking to build on that in 2015.

“We have successfully hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the past six years and it was not always the case that the title was decided in our race, so, regardless of whether the title goes to the wire, we can promise that spectators will have a great experience.”

Mr Al Ameri said despite the race selling out in the two years since capacity was increased to 60,000, the number of tickets and prices this year and prices will remain unchanged. “We want our race to continue to be accessible to everyone,” he said.

New types of ticket packages are available, including Marsa Boxes for corporate guests, with a chance to meet Mark Webber, the Australian former Red Bull Racing driver.

A one-day roaming ticket will be available for Friday’s two practice sessions. The cheapest one-day ticket is Dh356, while three days in a Marina Bay suite will cost Dh15,895.

International visitors are expected to increase this year, said Faisal Al Sheikh, events bureau director at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. Forty-four per cent of last year’s ticket holders arrived from overseas, with 180 nationalities.

Shane O’Hare, senior vice senior vice president of marketing for Etihad Airways, said the airline brought more than 10,000 guests to Abu Dhabi.

gmeenaghan@thenational.ae