Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Launch Drag Racing Team with 'Hot Rod' Fuller

---

(ABU DHABI) -- Yas Marina Circuit and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) have launched the Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit Drag Racing Team, a Top Fuel dragster team, led by world-renowned driver Rod "Hot Rod" Fuller.

Unlike Formula 1 which is not that big in the US, drag racing is one of the most popular American motor sports. By joining the Full Throttle Racing Series this year, Abu Dhabi gets exposure in the world's largest professional drag racing event with 24 stops in 23 US cities. 

The Abu Dhabi Drag Racing Team will take part in four Top Fuel category races: the first in Sonoma, California, this past weekend served as an introduction that "Hot Rod" didn't win; next chance is next weekend at Denver, July 23-25; then Indianapolis from September 1-6; and Charlotte, North Carolina from September 24-26.

Rod Fuller, manager of Yas Marina Circuit's drag race driver training and team captain, said, "It feels great to be back behind the wheel at the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drag racing is a contest of acceleration and power, making it exciting to watch and even more exciting to participate in." Fuller was runner up in the Full Throttle Series in 2007.

Among the world's fastest-accelerating machines, 8,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters can cover a quarter mile (402 meters) in less than four seconds at up to 500 km/h, powered by a supercharged and fuel-injected adaptation of the Chrysler Hemi engine, running on nitro methane fuel. Constructed of chromoly steel tubing and carbon-fiber composite, Top Fuel cars are 7.5 meters long and weigh 1,100 kilograms. 

Richard Cregan, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit, said, "With so much interest in drag racing in the UAE and the Gulf region and our own state-of-the-art facility at Yas Marina Circuit, it is our hope that we will soon be producing our own world-class drivers here in Abu Dhabi."

ADTA sees drag racing as another key platform to build destination awareness in the emerging US market. "We look forward to welcoming US motorsports fans to Abu Dhabi as awareness of the destination and its vibrant events calendar spreads throughout America," said Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General, ADTA.

---