Welcome to Season Two of Vagabond Racer. This season, we’re going to visit a variety of international tracks, and we’re going to mix in sprint races, doubleheaders, and endurance races. The first track we’ll visit is Circuit of the Emirates in Dubai.
I was surprised to learn that Circuit of the Emirates is not a real track. It is one of the “imagined” tracks (along with Maple Valley Raceway and the Bernese Alps circuit) in Forza Motosports 7. Even when I started practicing on the track, I thought It was real, and didn’t understand how or why any sanctioning body would visit the track. It cuts through an airport, goes up the side of a mountain, and has a very fast section that is partially covered by blowing sand.
I don’t really care for Circuit of the Emirates. I particularly dislike the esses going up the mountain, and the sand over the track is very distracting. Even so, for whatever reason, I seem to be pretty good at it. In fact, at the moment, I own the 41st fastest lap ever run on the track. That’s out of nearly 11,000 other drivers on Forza Motorsports 7. It surprises me, but I’ll take it.
Here’s what Forza Fandom has to say about Circuit of the Emirates:
“The first thing a driver notices about this road is how easily it can get covered up by the stark, beautiful desert that stretches out seemingly forever. The second is the blistering heat. Yet, despite the punishing sun and random road hazards, Dubai offers an unparalleled experience that beckons drivers who yearn for high speeds and challenging curves.
“Based on the real-life city of Dubai, Dubai is a fictional environment that acts as the showcase track of Forza Motorsport 7. Landmarks like the Dubai International Airport and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, can be seen in the background. Racers travel through the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Pass and through a desert before going under the Dubai International Airport.
“While the circuit is based in Dubai, the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Pass is located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, situated on the other side of the country, on the border of the UAE and Oman. Additionally, the Forza rendition of the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Pass features the Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel, a real-life destination.”
It’s time to go racing again. Let’s go to Dubai.
