Yas Marina Circuit has undergone a digital evolution to replace the analog backbone of its audio system with a fully digital architecture. The project was delivered against a tight timeframe by PKE Gulf, which called on equipment from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to ensure the circuit would meet modern international sports venue standards.

Yas Marina Circuit is home to the season-ending Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The decision to upgrade its sound reinforcement system was confirmed a couple of months before the race with a phased approach agreed. The first phase would see the replacement of its analog backbone which was installed when the circuit opened in 2010 and an upgrade to the main grandstand’s audio system. Further phases will cover the remaining north, south and west grandstands. 

“Our objective was to move away from a system that had reached the end of its lifecycle and toward a robust, fully digital platform that could support current operational demands and future expansion,” states Omar Naiem, Smart Venues Senior Manager at Ethara, the venue management company for Yas Marina Circuit. “The phased approach allowed us to upgrade critical areas ahead of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while maintaining full operational continuity across the venue.”

PKE Gulf was selected to handle the phased project based on its experience in the sector and opted for equipment from Electro-Voice and Dynacord to help it achieve the results that the circuit required. “Electro-Voice and Dynacord were selected for their outstanding professional design and proven performance,” explains Gerald Zak, Senior Technical Manager at PKE Gulf WLL. “The large portfolio and scalability of the Electro-Voice solutions allowed the entire project to be covered with a single, coherent audio platform, ensuring consistent sound quality, reliability, and visual integration across all areas of the main grandstand. Combined with Dynacord’s powerful processing and amplification technologies, the solution delivers a robust, future-ready system that meets the highest standards expected at a modern international motorsport venue.”

Read the full article from ISSUE 46 below: