The Dubai Autodrome (دبي أوتودروم) is an FIA sanctioned 5.390 km (3.349 mi) motorsports circuit located in Dubailand, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The architects of the project were Populous and the circuit was designed by Clive Bowen of Apex Circuit Design.

Dubai Autodrome
Dubai Autodrome
LocationDubai Motor City, Al Hebiah 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Time zoneUTC+04:00
Coordinates25°03′02.28″N 55°14′20.86″E / 25.0506333°N 55.2391278°E / 25.0506333; 55.2391278
FIA Grade1 (2 layouts)
3 (2 layouts)
Broke ground2002
Opened6 October 2004; 20 years ago (2004-10-06)
ArchitectApex Circuit Design
Major eventsCurrent:
24H Series Middle East Trophy Dubai 24 Hour
(2006–present)
Asian Le Mans Series
4 Hours of Dubai
(2021–present)
FR Middle East (2023–present)
Former:
FR Asia (2020–2022)
TCR Middle East (2017–2019)
TCR International Series (2017)
FIA GT (2004–2006)
GP2 Asia (2008)
A1 Grand Prix (2005)
ETCC (2004)
Websitedubaiautodrome.ae
Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present)
Length5.390 km (3.349 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:41.220 (Japan Kamui Kobayashi, Dallara GP2/05, 2008, GP2 Asia)
International Circuit (2004–present)
Length4.290 km (2.666 miles)
Turns12
Race lap record1:22.453 (France Romain Grosjean, Dallara GP2/05, 2008, GP2 Asia)
National Circuit (2004–present)
Length3.560 km (2.212 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:21.997 (South Africa Jonathan Aberdein, Tatuus F4-T014, 2016, F4)
Club Circuit (2004–present)
Length2.460 km (1.529 miles)
Turns11
Hill Handling Circuit (2004–present)
Length1.620 km (1.007 miles)
Turns9
Oval Handling Circuit (2004–present)
Length1.120 km (0.696 miles)
Turns6

Opened in October 2004 with the final round of the LG Super Racing Weekend[1] featuring the final rounds of the FIA GT Championship, European Touring Car Championship and 2004 Formula Renault V6 Eurocup season, Dubai Autodrome was the first part of the Dubai Motor City development that was available for use.[2] The venue hosted the December 2005 A1 Grand Prix and the FIA GT Championship from 2004 to 2006. The track record at the longest configuration was set by Kamui Kobayashi (DAMS) with a time of 1:41.220 in a GP2 Asia car. The Dubai Kartdrome includes international standard karting track which across the boulevard from Dubai Autodrome, it declares the championship level karting also becoming popular for its arrive and drive karting at both the outdoor and indoor venues.[3]

Since 2006 the Autodrome has been home to the Dubai 24 Hour, a GT, sports car and touring car automobile endurance race open to both professional and semi-professional teams. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license, which means that it has all the requirements to host a Formula One race (though Abu Dhabi currently hosts F1 races in the UAE).[4] Dubai Autodrome will include retail stores, themed restaurants and refreshment outlets and will also provide private corporate hospitality suites with a public grandstand that can play host to 7,000 spectators.

Events

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Current
Former

Dubai Kartdrome

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The Kartdrome an international standard karting track situated across the boulevard from the Dubai Autodrome main straight.[5] It has 1.2 km Kartdrome circuit features 17 testing corners and is attentively designed to give it the flexibility of being divided into two smaller circuits. The circuit accommodates 40 cars at a time and provides every feasible service which is [6] needed to enjoy a complete karting experience.

The venue also hosts UAE championship karting[7] and has in the past hosted rounds of the Biland World Finals and the Middle East Karting Championship. The biggest karting race in the Middle East (Dubai O Plate) is held there.[citation needed]

Track configurations

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The circuit has four racing configurations and two additional non-racing sections. These are the courses with access to the pit area.

Handling courses

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Lap records

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The official lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:41.220, set by Kamui Kobayashi during the 2008 2nd Dubai GP2 Asia Series round, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:40.887, set by Romain Grosjean in the qualifying of the aforementioned race.[8] As of December 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Dubai Autodrome are listed as:[9]

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 5.390 km (2004–present)
GP2 Asia 1:41.220[9] Kamui Kobayashi Dallara GP2/05 2008 2nd Dubai GP2 Asia Series round
LMP2 1:46.306[9][10] Franco Colapinto Aurus 01 2021 4 Hours of Dubai Race 2
A1GP 1:46.497[9] Ralph Firman Lola A1GP 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, United Arab Emirates
LMP1 1:48.528[11] Emmanuel Collard Pescarolo 01[12] 2022 Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival
LMP3 1:53.651[9][13] Kay van Berlo Ligier JS P3 2018 3x3H Dubai Race 2
Formula One 1:53.947[14] Stuart Hall March 821[15] 2023 Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival
Formula Renault 3.5 1:54.926[9][16] Christian Montanari Tatuus FRV6 2004 Dubai Formula Renault V6 Eurocup round
GT1 (GTS) 1:55.621[9][17] Jean-Denis Delétraz Aston Martin DBR9 2006 FIA GT Dubai 500km
Formula Regional 1:55.761[18] Mari Boya Tatuus F3 T-318 2023 1st Dubai Formula Regional Middle East Championship round
FIA Group 2 1:55.902[17] Gabriele Gardel Ferrari 550 Maranello Evo 2006 FIA GT Dubai 500km
GT3 1:56.358[9][19] Ben Barnicoat McLaren 720S GT3 2022 4 Hours of Dubai Race 2
MRF Challenge 1:57.038[20] Max Defourny Dallara Formulino Pro 2018 Dubai MRF Challenge round
Formula 4 2:00.536[9][21] Dilano van 't Hoff Tatuus F4-T014 2021 3rd Dubai Formula 4 UAE round
Porsche Carrera Cup 2:00.711[22] Morris Schuring Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2022 Dubai Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round
GT2 2:01.387[17] Tim Mullen Ferrari F430 GT2 2006 FIA GT Dubai 500km
Ferrari Challenge 2:02.552[23] Roman Ziemian Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo 2022 Dubai Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific round
N-GT 2:03.426[24] Sascha Maassen Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR 2004 FIA GT Dubai 500km
Stock car racing 2:05.910[25] Heinz-Harald Frentzen Speedcar V8 2008 3rd Dubai Speedcar Series round
GT4 2:06.702[26] Keith Gatehouse Mercedes AMG GT4 2023-4 Gulf ProCar - Round 3
TCR Touring Car 2:10.287[9][27] René Münnich Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) 2019 2nd Dubai TCR Middle East Series round
Super 2000 2:12.285[28][29] Augusto Farfus[a]
Gabriele Tarquini[a]
Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Super 2000[a] 2004 Dubai ETCC round
Renault Clio Cup 2:23.386[30] Jerzy Spinkiewicz Renault Clio RS V 2023 1st Dubai Renault Clio Cup Middle East round
International Circuit: 4.290 km (2004–present)
GP2 Asia 1:22.453[8] Romain Grosjean Dallara GP2/05 2008 1st Dubai GP2 Asia Series round
Formula Regional 1:35.055[31] Hadrien David Tatuus F3 T-318 2022 1st Dubai FR Asia round
Formula 4 1:37.839[32] Logan Sargeant Tatuus F4-T014 2017 1st Dubai Formula 4 UAE round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:38.286[33] Ghislain Cordeel Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2023 Dubai Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round
Stock car racing 1:42.438[34] Jean Alesi Speedcar V8 2009 Dubai Speedcar Series round
TCR Touring Car 1:45.236[35] Luca Engstler Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 2018 Dubai TCR Middle East Series round
SEAT León Supercopa 1:51.107[36] Costas Papantonis SEAT León Cupra R 2012 2nd Dubai UAE GT round
Renault Clio Cup 1:56.685[37] Jerzy Spinkiewicz Renault Clio RS V 2022 3rd Dubai Renault Clio Cup Middle East round
National Circuit: 3.560 km (2004–present)
Formula 4 1:21.997[38] Jonathan Aberdein Tatuus F4-T014 2016–2017 1st Dubai Formula 4 UAE round
TCR Touring Car 1:28.733 Pepe Oriola SEAT León TCR 2017 TCR International Series Dubai round
Renault Clio Cup 1:38.579[39] Jerzy Spinkiewicz Renault Clio RS V 2022 2nd Dubai Renault Clio Cup Middle East round

Fatal accidents

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No. Competitor Date Course Section Race Event Machine
1   Christophe Hissette April 2010 Turn 16 Qualifying session Radical SR3
2   Pascal Grosjean[40] 27 Nov 2010 Finish 2010 Sportsbike Championship race UAE Sportbike 600cc championship Sportbike 600cc
3   Federico Fratelli January 2018 Turn 14 2018 Sportsbike Championship race UAE Sportbike 600cc championship Sportbike 600cc

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Both drivers took the same lap time in both races of this round.

References

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  1. ^ Staff Report (2004-07-15). "Super Weekend to launch the autodrome". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  2. ^ "MotorCity - Dubai Autrdrome". Archived from the original on 2007-09-13.
  3. ^ "General Managers Message - Dubai Autodrome". 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  4. ^ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS" (PDF). FIA. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Arrive & Drive Karting - Dubai Autodrome". Dubai Autodrome. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  6. ^ Reporter, A. Staff. "GEARING UP FOR THE FUTURE". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  7. ^ "Kartdrome Racing | Dubai Autodrome". Archived from the original on 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  8. ^ a b "Dubai Autodrome - Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dubai Autodrome Fastest Lap Comparison". Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  10. ^ "4 Hours of Dubai Best laptimes per driver - Race 2" (PDF). 14 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ^ "2022 Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival - GT & Prototype 00s - Race 2". 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  12. ^ "2022 Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival Photo Gallery". 29 November 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Hankook 3x3H Dubai - Proto Race 2 Race Result per Class" (PDF). 7 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  14. ^ "2023 Gulf Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival - Formula 1 70s+ - Race 1". 9 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  15. ^ "2023 GGulf Historic Dubai GP Revival Notebook". 16 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  16. ^ "2004 Dubai Formula Renault V6". Motor Sport Magazine. 8 October 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "2006 FIA GT Championship Motorcity GT 500". 18 November 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  18. ^ "18th Hankook 24H Dubai 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship Final Result Race 3" (PDF). 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Dubai Race 2 Final Classification" (PDF). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  20. ^ "MRF Challenge 2018 - Round 1 - Race 3 Results". 17 November 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  21. ^ "2021 Formula 4 UAE Dubai 3 (Race 3)". 13 February 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  22. ^ "2022 Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Dubai Autodrome Final result Race 2" (PDF). 22 January 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  23. ^ "17th Hankook 24H Dubai 2022 Ferrari Challenge Final Result Race 3" (PDF). 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  24. ^ "FIA GT Championship Dubai 2004". 8 October 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  25. ^ "2008 Dubai Speedcar - Round 1". Motor Sport Magazine. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Speedhive". speedhive.mylaps.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  27. ^ "UAE National Raceday TCR ME - Race 1". 7 February 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  28. ^ "ETCC 2004 » Dubai Autodrome Round 19 Results". 8 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  29. ^ "ETCC 2004 » Dubai Autodrome Round 20 Results". 8 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  30. ^ "18th Hankook 24H DUBAI 2023 Clio Cup Middle East Final Result Race 1" (PDF). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  31. ^ "2021-22 National Race Days, Round 2 Formula Regional Asian Championship - Race 1". 29 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  32. ^ "UAE National Race Day 28 January 2017 Formula 4 UAE Race 3 Results" (PDF). 28 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Dubai Porsche Sprint Challenge ME 2023 - Race 2". 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  34. ^ "2009 Dubai Speedcar". Motor Sport Magazine. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  35. ^ "Luca Engstler and Florian Thoma dominate Dubai TCR Middle East races". 27 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  36. ^ "UAE GT Dubai 2012". 2 March 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  37. ^ "NGK Race Weekends 2022-23 >> Renault Clio Cup Middle East - Race 1". 18 December 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  38. ^ "UAE National Race Day 19 November 2016 Formula 4 UAE Race 2 Results" (PDF). 19 November 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  39. ^ "NGK Race Weekends 2022-23 >> NGK Race Weekends 2. Clio Cup Middle East - Race 2". 11 December 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Pascal Grosjean dies after race win". 27 November 2010.
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