2nuksabroad: Abu Dhabi Formula 1

The first thing I decided that Janelle and I had to do when we found out we'd be in Oman for this year was go to Abu Dhabi for the F1 race. We talked it over with Pete and Zan and way back in May booked our race tickets and hotel. Hotels were already hard to find close to the track then and prices across the city were increased for the race weekend. We decided to stay at the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan, close to Marina Mall but further from the track as the prices were reasonable and it was a 5 star hotel. Janelle and I had also been there during the Abu Dhabi Triathlon in March and really liked it.

Hotel Beach

Gorgeous room

Lobby of the hotel was open all the way to the roof - 21 floors up

View from glass elevator coming down

Things got underway for the race on Thursday with the pit walk but we didn't leave Muscat until Friday with the plan to watch the second practice Friday afternoon. Saturday saw the third practice in the morning with qualifying in the afternoon and the actual race starting Sunday. All of the afternoon sessions started at 5pm which put the track under the lights making for a spectacular setting. An extra bonus at this race was the post race concerts held each night, something that I think is unique to Abu Dhabi. These aren't just small name acts either, Friday night was Kylie Minogue, Saturday was Nickleback and Sunday was Eminem. Entry was exclusive to F1 ticket holders and at no extra charge so I'm sure there was some serious cash paid by the Emirate to get them to play.

First of many beers

View from our seats

Girls looking very glam

The Viceroy Hotel and yachts in the marina

Arriving at the hotel on Friday we were treated wonderfully with complimentary valet, someone to open your door of the car, someone to take your bags to your room, extremely pleasant and polite staff and even someone bringing you fresh apples after you got into your room - fantastic. After checking in we made our way to Yas Island where the track was, everything is brand new there being only finished in 2009. The track was amazing and our seats were in the perfect spot. We were in the south grandstands and had a great view of some exciting passing corners as well as the Yas Viceroy Hotel and the marina with all the yachts moored for the race. The yachts were huge and each one was packed with people over the weekend partying. During the weekend there was promotion going on whereby if you were in your seats by 4:30 for the race at 5 you had a chance to win "Golden Circle" passes for the concert that night. Lucky for us we got them and as a result got to see Kylie right up front with hardly any people and no lines for beer!

Precious golden circle bracelets

Can you guess which one we each are?

Kylie performing on the Friday night

Saturday at the track we were determined to get the Golden Circle upgrade again but didn't make it on time. Qualifying was great and we ran into two other colleagues from PDO at the race, Alan and Lee. We made our way to the beer gardens and then onto the concert where the girls were determined to get into the Golden Circle. Amazingly, through some improvisation (Janelle making a fake bracelet, myself buying a Golden Circle bracelet, Zan getting one given to her out of sympathy as she was sitting on the ground in her dress looking sad, and Pete getting my bracelet through some sneakiness) we all got into Golden Circle again for Nickleback which was another great show. For the afterparty we headed to the Viceroy hotel and were blown away by the luxury and luxury cars parked outside. That was a trend all weekend, stunning cars everywhere you looked, on the track, on the roads and at the hotels. We finished the night at the Y Bar on Yas Island and amazingly ran into Alan and Lee again. It turned into a late night but well worth it.

Day 2 beer garden - found an old friend

Nickleback

Just like a South African lion

Y Bar post Nickleback afterparty

Sunday was race day and we were more than determined to complete the trifecta of Golden Circle bracelets. Unbelievably we did it, legitimately getting the upgrade for that night. The race itself was fantastic, our seats were perfect and we saw all the overtaking, crashes and stalls right in front of us. The last concert was Eminem and apparently he hadn't performed in over 7 years so we were all pretty excited to see him. Our view was amazing being so close and was awesome. There was no censor for those who know his music and he gave a really good show. Janelle and I were keen to keep the party weekend going and made our way back to Y Bar where we had one last late night of partying before leaving for Muscat the next day. All 4 of us were sad to leave Abu Dhabi behind and would definitely return to it next year.