1. PARADE EXPOSÉ BUSINESS SCIENCE
AS PART OF our commitment to
bring you all the latest news on
the region’s newest F1 venue
this month Claire Furnell spoke
to Aldar’s project director, Paul
Crosetta.
Claire Furnell: What is your
role with the Yas Island project
and what does this involve on
a day-to-day basis?
Paul Crosetta: As project
director for Aldar I am
responsible for overseeing all
design and construction to
ensure the various stages of the
development are delivered on
time and to the highest standard
of quality.
I am based on site at Yas
Island, managing and co-
coordinating the logistics of the
various parties involved in the
development, including
investors, designers and
contractors.
CF: Have you been involved in
a project like Yas Island
before?
PC: No, I have never been
involved in a project of the scale
of Yas Island before and in all
honesty, I don’t know that
anyone on site has either. Yas
Island is of world-class
significance and the size, scale
and importance to Abu Dhabi
is of the highest level. It is an
honour for me to be involved
on behalf of this emirate.
CF: What has happened on Yas
this month?
PC: It has been another busy
period, which has seen us
working very hard on earthworks
across the site with around
250,000 m3 of fill being placed
each month. Sculpting of the
land between what will be Turns
2 and 4 has commenced – this
requires the placement of about
740,000 m3 of fill which, as you
can imagine, involves a lot of
people and machinery.
This will provide the 10-metre
elevation for this section of track.
Placement of 400,000 m3 of fill
beneath the two large
grandstands continued and is
very near completion which will
be followed immediately by the
installation of piles.
In addition, we have
dedicated much time and
attention to laying the
groundwork necessary for us to
start construction on the
superstructure of the pit building
and main grandstand. In excess
of 650 piles have been installed.
Ground preparations for the
media centre and team
buildings are complete and
piling will commence by the
end of August.
CF: How many people do you
currently have working on
site?
PC: Presently we have over 500
people working on site at the
moment. This number will
continue to grow rapidly as
activity is ramped up – there will
be over 15,000 people working
on Yas Island during 2008.
CF: How many contractors are
involved on Yas?
PC: There are numerous other
companies who have been
contracted by Aldar Properties to
help execute construction of Yas
Island and this will continue to
expand as the various phases of
the development get underway.
Looking specifically at Yas
Island Circuit, Hermann Tilke
designed the track, KBR is
responsible for overall project
management and we recently
appointed Cebarco-WCT W.L.L.
for the construction.
CF: Is the project on schedule
to be finished for the 2009
Grand Prix?
PC: We are extremely pleased
with the way in which
construction is progressing and
we remain very much on target
to have the circuit completed by
the end of 2008. In fact, in a
number of tasks we are already
ahead of schedule including the
excavation of the marina and
piling work for the pit building.
CF: What facilities can
spectators expect to be ready
by 2009?
PC: In addition to the Yas Island
circuit, the Island will feature
numerous attractions that will
appeal to all tastes and interests
including Ferrari Experience,
which is the world’s first and only
F1 RACING EXCLUSIVE
sport developments around
the world?
PC: Starting with a blank canvas
we have had the luxury of
learning from existing Grands
Prix as well as other major
sporting events to ensure
everything we do is best-practice
and that the experience we will
deliver spectators will be
unparalleled.
CF: How do you plan to make
Yas stand out from existing
F1 venues?
PC: We have engaged the
world’s leading experts – from
the track designers through to
constructors – to ensure Yas
Island Circuit takes motor racing
to a whole new level.
By combining this innovative
circuit, Abu Dhabi’s unique
culture and the beautiful
topography of Yas Island, we are
able to create a truly remarkable
experience that will be exciting
and enjoyable for drivers and
spectators.
Ferrari Theme Park. Other
attractions will include a water
park, marinas, a selection of
luxury hotels, championship
golf courses and a high-end
retail area.
CF: Are you an F1 fan?
PC: Absolutely, I have long been
a passionate follower of F1 and
am therefore thrilled to be
involved in this amazing project
– for me it really is a once-in-a-
lifetime experience.
CF: What is your view on how
Yas will compare to motor
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