Education has been playing a central part in Yas Marina Circuit’s development this summer. In June, the world-class Formula 1TM race venue opened the Yas Racing School, allowing drivers from across the UAE can learn to drive at racing speeds and even be driven in a two-seater Formula 1 racing car.
Then in July the circuit hosted the student Summer Programme, organised by Abu Dhabi Institute of Applied Technology (IAT), which delivered an exciting series of seminars and practical workshops.
The Yas Racing School will allow people who have never driven a racing car to receive expert tuition from specially selected instructors in Aston Martin GT4 racers and open-top Yas SuperSport SST track cars. They can also drive a Formula Yas 3000 single-seater, fitted with a three-litre V6 engine developed by Formula 1 engine-builder Cosworth.
Other programmes offered by the Yas Racing School include a one-day racing licence assessment course in association with the Automobile Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the official licensing body. Drivers who pass the medical examination and a written and practical test will have their racing licence issued by ATCUAE.
The fleet of cars at the Yas Racing School will include 10 Yas Supersports SSTs, two of the even faster SSX versions, seven Aston Martin GT4 racing cars, 15 Formula Yas 3000 single-seater racers and two F1 two-seaters. During the summer, the fleet is being expanded to include eight small sporting hatchbacks and 30 karts.
The highly successful IAT Summer Programme focused on motorsports and the procedures adopted on a racetrack, including an overview of the information technology systems, standards of security and safety, and practical car maintenance training.
Yas Marina Circuit training and competition
The Yas Marina Circuit Sporting Department presented and offered practical training for the students about the various processes involved in operating a racetrack and the security and safety standards required.
Information Technology students were able to interact with the advanced information technology systems used in the races while the Facilities Department organized a briefing tour for the students to explore the utilities and installations. Students had the opportunity to visit all installations including the 60m solar-powered Sun Tower - one of the most iconic landmarks of the circuit.
At the Yas Racing School, students were given the opportunity to explore the various engineering aspects of Formula 1 and drag race cars. The team responsible for the racetrack gave a detailed overview of the logistics required away from the racetrack including the transportation of Formula 1 cars around the world in short periods of time.
The site management team explained the multiple roles they play including transportation, management of traffic at the circuit and health and safety tasks. During their visit to the Drag Race Centre, the students were briefed on the basic rules of drag racing.
Adding to the practical experience, students also participated in an exciting Formula 1 in Schools competition where they had the opportunity to design and build a wooden model of a Formula 1 car, equipped with a single-cylinder, compressed-air engine. The completed cars then battled it out in a 20-metre race.
IAT – preventative and procedural training
To supplement the main features and sessions with Yas Marina Circuit, the program also included a series of important training courses presented by IAT professors on the preventive and procedural maintenance of cars. Students gained valuable experience from these courses, enabling them to perform such procedures themselves, including an oil change, determining the suitable amount of cooling water to add or replace and how to test a battery and its voltage. Students also learnt how to check, assess and rectify fluid leaks.
The summer training also covered road safety lectures in addition to computer and design program training as participants became aware of car parts and a car’s basic systems. This first-hand contact with all aspects of the Formula 1 races enabled students to review the procedures approved in global races whilst also visiting team rooms and car maintenance garages.
High-profile lectures and career opportunities
One of the highlights of the program included several high-profile lectures focusing on the various different aspects of motorsports. Students received individual presentations from Richard Cregan, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit; Ronan Morgan, Director of Sport Projects at the UAE Automobile Touring Club; Rod Fuller, the Top Fuel driver at Yas Drag Racing Centre; and Fabian Laurent, Ferrari Global Sales Manager.
Richard Cregan commented: "We are delighted to have organised this summer programme with our industry partners, offering students a practical educational experience. We hope it has helped to encourage them to continually follow and enjoy the world of motorsports. I believe it has also helped to illustrate and reinforce the various career routes available to graduates in the advanced technological sectors."
In order to maximise the skills and experiences the students gained throughout the program, a final lecture was held at the end of the course to introduce and highlight to students the various work opportunities available in the world of motorsports across the UAE, and in particular at Yas Marina Circuit.
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