Ferrari confirmed for Abu Dhabi F1 festival

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has confirmed that its drivers for the 2007 F1 World Championship season, Felipe Massa and Kimi R?ikk?nen, will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in the F1 Festival on Saturday, 3rd February 2007. The event is now confirmed as the largest gathering of F1 cars and drivers ever assembled outside of a Grand Prix event. It is completely free to the public and will start at 9am.

"We are absolutely delighted that Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro will be bringing both of their drivers and their cars to race through the streets of Abu Dhabi - in what is now a matter of days," commented Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nayhan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. "Ferrari enjoys a unique relationship with its fans around the world and the UAE is no exception. This will be a rare opportunity for fans to see their heroes up close."

Felipe Massa is tagged as the great new Brazilian hope. Brazil has a strong tradition of producing great F1 drivers, such as Ayrton Senna and Massa has won several Grand Prix. His most memorable win of 2006 took place in his home Grand Prix in Brazil where he beat Kimi, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.

Kimi Raikkonen joined Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro during the close season. Both he and Massa will race the all-new F2007 race car in this year's Championship, with much expected from the pair building on the team's success in the 2006 season. Raikkonen finished second in the Championship twice in 2003 and 2005.

Many people expect Massa and Raikkonen to push current World Champion Fernando Alonso - who will also race in Abu Dhabi - hard throughout this year's race calendar in their efforts to claim a maiden world title.

Following the announcement earlier this month that Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development had become a sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, The Abu Dhabi F1 festival will also be the first time that fans will see a the Mubadala brand on an Ferrari F1 car in action. The Mubadala brand is also a logo that will be seen on the Ferrari drivers' caps during the 2007 season.

The F1 Festival is free to the public. The street has been specially designed to give as many spectators as possible access to the thrills of Formula One. It will stretch along Abu Dhabi's waterfront Corniche, from the Emirates Palace to the Marina Mall.