By Aziz J.Hayat – Flickr: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31303608
A €100 million Ferrari Land theme park is due to open in Spain next year.
The 15-acre adventure park inspired by the iconic Italian sports cars is to be developed after Ferrari struck a deal with entertainment group PortAventura World.
The park, about an hour’s drive south of Barcelona, promises to have the highest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe – the ‘vertical accelerator’ – and is due to open on April 7, 2017.
Visitors travel along a track at 180 kilometres an hour for five seconds, then rise up a 112-metre high big wheel at about 112 kilometres per hour, before dropping down the other side, The Times reported.
As well as the accelerator, there will be a race track, two ‘bounce-back’ free fall towers, Formula One simulators for adults and children, and a range of other attractions.
The new park will include eight attractions, food and drink outlets and other “surprises” which have yet to be revealed, according to Port Aventura Parks & Resorts
The opening will transform the Port Aventura resort “into an internationally-renowned holiday destination with its offer of three theme parks in just one resort, 2,100 hotel rooms spread across five themed hotels and a unique range of food/drink options and shows, the company added.
Ferrari test driver Marc Gené, revealed some details as to what the Ferrari Land experience will entail: “Attractions like the vertical accelerator will allow visitors to experience first- hand some of the sensations of driving a Formula 1 racing car.
“It’s a park for all ages, where even the youngest members of the family can discover the legendary spirit of Ferrari.”
The development is designed to draw visitors from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The Italian carmaker wanted to associate its brand with PortAventura because it is a family orientated adventure park that already attracts four million visitors each year.
PortAventura World operations general manager, Fernando Aldecoa, said: “We are very pleased with how the project is developing and initial estimates still foresee construction works being finalised this year, and the park fully operational in time for the official opening in April 2017.”