Sports Technology

Hosting the 2015 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, the Yas Marina Circuit will be operating at the cutting edge of technology to deliver the most advanced services to the sport’s ruling body, the FIA, as well as the media and the public.

The ‘Digiflag’ electronic signalling system, taken by FIA to all Grands Prix around the world is already permanently in place all year round at Yas Marina Circuit, ensuring that the circuit provides support over and above the FIA’s expectations and when it comes to safety and efficiency standards.

The system involves a series of digital screens replacing flag-carrying human marshalls at key locations around the track and eliminates human error and reduces delays in the safety communication chain.

The system also functions all year round as Yas Marina Circuit hosts a wide range of homegrown and regional motorsport events, such as TRD 86 Cup, Yas Racing Series and the Gulf 12 Hours.

Yas Marina Circuit also offers a state-of-the-art Media Centre – one of the largest and most advanced at any circuit. Capable of housing more than 500 media at one time, it has recently been upgraded with three giant Ultra-high definition (UHD) screens that will be used to display live feeds from the races, results and other important information in ‘4K’ resolution.

The Media Centre also hosts press during Yas Marina Circuit’s raft of community, health and fitness events that take place throughout its busy calendar.

Ali Al Beshr, Head of Sporting at Yas Marina Circuit, explains “we are a forward thinking circuit, and safety for our clients, guests and race participants is always a top priority.

“We are very proud to be the only Formula 1® Circuit in the world to use the FIA approved Marshal Light system all year round and there is no doubt that this assists us in achieving our safety goals.

“We aim to achieve excellence across every aspect of our business to all our stakeholders.

“Technology is a very important aspect on delivering the best possible experience and helps us to do just that.

“Our outstanding global reputation as a venue that goes beyond in every possible sense – both on and off the track – in the world of motorsport is something we are very proud of and will always seek to maintain and improve.”

The circuit also offers digital solutions to the public too, and in order to offer even more engagement for the 60,000 visitors on race weekend, Yas Marina Circuit has recently upgraded its YasHUB smartphone app, available to download from Android and Apple stores.

The upgrade allows users to scan their ticket packages, resulting in an animation of all main seating areas and venues around the island being built up in 3D on their phones. Ticket holders can then select their seating area and will be shown precisely where their seats are as the animation zooms into their seating zone – allowing the user to understand in three dimensions where exactly they will enjoy the action.

Not only that, but fans can use the AR technology to check out the view from their seat through a series of images on the app, offering an immersive digitally enhanced experience to ticket holders.

Images: The Yas Marina Circuit app (top), F1 app (middle) and the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will again begin with a fly-past by Etihad Airways planes (below).

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