THRILLING ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX FINALE SEES NICO ROSBERG FINISH THE SEASON IN STYLE
Sell out, capacity crowd of 60,000 cheer on Nico Rosberg as he dueled for supremacy with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton while the sun set on a spectacular weekend of non-stop racing action and entertainment
aTP- Arab tourism portal- Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, – A capacity, sell-out crowd of 60,000 fans watched Nico Rosberg hold off current World Champion Lewis Hamilton, as he took advantage of his sixth straight pole to snatch victory from his Mercedes teammate at a thrilling close to the 2015 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX.
Ahead of the race, Hamilton was crowned 2015 Formula 1 Champion for a third time in the pit lane at Yas Marina Circuit. He was hoping to make today his 44thwin in his number 44 Mercedes just before the UAE celebrated its 44thNational Day, but the German was too quick and Hamilton walked off with second place on the podium, with Raikonnen placing third – in what turned out to be a top three replay of yesterday’s qualifying.
Rosberg’s triumph concluded three days of track action and spectacular off-track activities enjoyed by fans across the iconic venue.
Throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, racing fans from more than 170 countries have enjoyed an electric atmosphere, both in the grandstands and away from the track. The final after-race concert, featuring British indie giants Blur, brought the curtain down on a world-beating, non-stop program of entertainment.
“I would like to congratulate Nico Rosberg on driving a fantastic race after what has been a very exciting Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend,” said Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit.
“Fans worldwide were watching each practice and qualifying session with great interest to see who would get the edge. The 60,000 people that made up the seventh sell out crowd in a row since we started in 2009 have generated an incredible atmosphere around the whole circuit.
“Today’s race was yet again a superb way to top off the 2015 Formula 1 racing season.”
As well as the GP2, GP3 and F1 sporting action, the crowd at this year’s race enjoyed a superb range of on-site activities to suit people of all ages.
Four themed Oasis areas dotted around public areas of the 5.5km circuit served up a variety of entertainment, from autograph sessions and racing simulators to a “Pampering Pit Stop” offering manicures and massage.
In the Main Oasis, fans were able to get up close and personal with their favourite drivers at daily autograph sessions. There was also a games zone, exhilarating zip line experience, and Majlis chill out areas with live music and entertainment.
The West Oasis was about going social. Racegoers interacted digitally by linking up with friends and F1 fans across the globe thanks to the area’s free WiFi and by using the #AbuDhabiGP hashtag while posting content.
The South Oasis was perfect for an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix party, with tunes by international DJs and a host of interactive games on high-tech gadgets.
The North Oasis was focused on Abu Dhabi’s rich history. The Culture & Heritage Village featured live cookery stations, local entertainment and arts and crafts and proved popular with overseas and local visitors alike.
As ever, the F1 after-race concert series proved a huge success. It kicked off in style on Thursday night, with a bill that included famous Middle Eastern artists such as Cheb Khaled, Aryam, Fares Karam, and DJ Said Mrad. The international headline artists saw a wealth of talent take to the stage in the du Arena, with Enrique Iglesias and Florence + the Machine playing Friday and Saturday, and indie giants Blur finishing off what has been yet another memorable weekend.
