Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, July 15, 2021: Yas Marina Circuit will host FIA Formula 4 UAE Championship powered by Abarth race action as part of this year’s FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX.
For the second time in the space of three years, a non-point scoring Trophy Round of F4 UAE will take place over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Weekend, prior to the sixth season of the championship getting underway in January 2022.
The new season will see F4UAE debuting the “second generation” T-421 Tatuus race car, with increased support from technical partners Tatuus and Autotecnica Motori.
Yas Marina Circuit previously hosted a non-championship F4UAE support event ahead of the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX in 2019, and this time around drivers will be tasked with navigating the new-look track, which is currently undergoing modification work in order to increase opportunities for overtaking and enhance the overall race spectacle.
In 2019, both Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi took part in the F4UAE Trophy Round, with the former becoming the first Arab woman to win an FIA single-seater race following a brilliant performance. The second of two races was won by Alex Connor.
Saif Al Noaimi, Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said: “We are delighted to host a non-championship Trophy Round of the FIA Formula 4 UAE Championship as part of this year’s Grand Prix weekend.
“These young drivers, with vast talent and big ambitions, are potential stars of the future, and we are naturally thrilled to provide them with a platform on which to showcase their talents.
“On the previous occasion we hosted an F4 UAE Trophy Round, in 2019, it was a huge success, and fans attending this year’s event can look forward to some fantastic, competitive race action on our new-look track.
“This year’s Grand Prix is already beginning to take shape, and this announcement is the latest addition to an action-packed schedule which will continue to evolve over the coming months.”
Craig Thompson, F4UAE promoter, added: “With the new Gen2 Tatuus race car and us returning to race in front of Formula 1, this season will be our biggest yet.
“The majority of our young drivers aspire to race in F1 so this will be another exciting opportunity for them to showcase their skills in front of the best teams in the world and their racing heroes, and if they impress it can be a launchpad for opportunities next season in Europe for sure.
“It was a huge thrill last time we competed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and to now do so with the brand new Tatuus race car, and on the newly configured Yas Marina Circuit layout, adds that extra level of excitement.
“I would like to thank all parties involved including the FIA, Tatuus, Formula 1 Management and not least Yas Marina Circuit for making this support event possible again.”
Given the track reconfiguration programme which is currently taking place at Yas Marina Circuit, the F1 support event will include 110-120 minutes of total track time with one pre-event test day included in the weeks before. This will allow teams and drivers to familiarize themselves with changes to the circuit layout.
Yas Marina Circuit will also host F4UAE races when the new season begins in 2022, along with additional days of pre-season testing for teams competing in the full championship. The calendar, which is expected to include four new teams, is set to be announced shortly.
F4 is open to drivers aged 15 years and above and was initially created by the world’s governing body of motorsport, the FIA, to help young drivers bridge the gap between existing karting and regional racing series, to European competition and potentially Formula 1.
Governed by the Emirates Motorsport Orgainzation (EMSO), F4UAE launched in 2016 and has since welcomed 80 drivers from 41 countries and is the only FIA-sanctioned open-wheeler category in the Middle East. Past champions include Enzo Trulli (ITA), Francesco Pizzi (ITA), Matteo Nannini (ITA), Charles Weerts (BEL), and Jonathan Aberdein (ZAF).
Tickets for this year’s FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX, which takes place at Yas Marina Circuit on December 9-12, are available now.
To secure your spot at the must-attend event, which will also see the return of After-Race Concerts, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com