Formula One in Abu Dhabi “Strategically Important” for Bridgestone

While the final Grand Prix of the Formula One season could be thought of as a dead rubber – Jenson Button and Brawn GP having sewn up the Drivers and Constructors Championships in Brazil – the event holds substantial interest for tyre provider Bridgestone, as the company heads to Yas Marina for the first ever meeting at Abu Dhabi. The new 5.5km circuit, described as “exciting” by the tyre-maker, will see 1,800 tyres of medium, soft and wet compound Potenzas between 30 October–1 November and the company will be keen to see how the rubber performs, with the venue sure to see more action in the coming seasons, in addition to the strategic importance of the Middle East region to the manufacturer. The combination of medium and soft has been seen previously this year in Belgium and Italy.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport, said: “It is wonderful for us to be ending the season at a fantastic new venue and all credit to everyone involved with the Yas Marina circuit for creating a superb new facility to be seen by millions of television viewers around the world. The Middle East is a strategically important market for us and we will be welcoming a large number of important customers and guests to this race.”

Hirohide Hamashima, director of Motorsport Tyre Development at Bridgestone addressed the challenges of the new stage: “This will be the first ever race meeting at this circuit so it is very much a step into the unknown. Of course, we work very closely with the circuit and teams with simulations and evaluations of the layout, and we have been working with a sample of the track surface. We will also have some data from the GP2 Asia Series test which takes place the week before the Grand Prix. In terms of expected lateral forces we can say that the circuit is similar to Valencia. The track surface is similar to Barcelona or Fuji. Our ambient temperature predictions place Abu Dhabi as being similar to Bahrain. The track is new so very dark in colour, meaning it could get quite hot. We expect to see a lot of surface evolution.

“The circuit layout is a typical stop and go street course so there will be traction demands. As with any new surface we can expect the possibility of graining early in the weekend. We have brought the medium and soft compound Bridgestone Potenza tyres as they sit in the middle of our tyre range. It is difficult to know exactly what the temperatures will be, especially the track surface temperature with such a dark new surface.”