Bahrain International Circuit
Encyclopedia
The Bahrain International Circuit (Arabic: حلبة البحرين الدولية) is a motorsport
venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing
, GP2
and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix
. The 2004
Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar
has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400
. 24 Hour endurance races also hosted at BIC.
circuit was a national objective for Bahrain, initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The Crown Prince is the Honorary President of the Bahrain Motor Federation. TRL was asked to build the circuit, headed by Patrick Brogan.
Race organisers were worried that the circuit would not be complete in time for the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix
and attempted to cancel the event; however, Formula One
supremo Bernie Ecclestone
refused this request. In the end, the circuit was not quite fully complete, but was good enough for the grand prix to go ahead.
In the circuit became the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award, given for excellent safety, race marshal, and medical facilities, and for the high standards of technology required to maintain these.
At the 2009 Grand Prix
, BIC announced a collaboration with @bahrain to develop land next to the circuit. @bahrain is part of the Mumtalakat group of companies. @bahrain will dedicate more than 1 million square meters of business, entertainment and educational space with a value in excess of US$ 2bn (BHD 850million), making it one of the largest investment projects to take place in Bahrain in the past five years.
In 2011 the circuit was scheduled to be the first GP of the season. However, due to civil unrest in the country the race had to be cancelled in March 2011. On early June the FIA announced that the race would be scheduled for October 30th, the original slot for the inaugural Indian GP, which would be shifted to a season-closing date on December 11. However, two days later following concerns from teams and other officials, the race organizers officially cancelled the race, choosing to focus their attention on the 2012 running. The 2012 Formula One calendar has the race scheduled for March 11, the first of the season.
, the same architect who designed the Sepang circuit
in Malaysia. The main contractor for the project was Cebaro-WCT, a Bahraini civil engineering company run by Khalid Abdulrahim. The circuit cost approximately US$150 million to construct. It has six separate tracks, including a test oval and a drag strip.
The circuit posed a unique problem. Positioned in the middle of a desert, there were worries that sand would blow onto the circuit and disrupt the race. However, organizers were able to keep the sand off the track by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track.
The surface of the track is made of Graywacke aggregate
, shipped to Bahrain from Bayston Hill
quarry in Shropshire
, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula 1 drivers for the high level of grip
it offers. The same aggregate material is used at the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
.
World Championship, the Australian V8 Supercar
Championship Series, the GP2 Series
, GP2 Asia, Chevrolet Lumina Series, Speedcar Series
, Thunder Arabia and Radical.
In the past the circuit has hosted the FIA GT Championship
, and a one-off Bahrain Superprix involving Formula Three
cars, following on from the collapsed Korea Super Prix
. The first ever Formula BMW
World Final took place in Bahrain. Also every year there is the traditional 24 Hours of Bahrain.
Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt
, Lebanon
and the United Arab Emirates
all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the 2006 season
, when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix
, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games
. In , Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the season Bahrain was again the season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.9 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. For 2011 however F1 was set to return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009. The race was postponed and finally cancelled due to protests in the country.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, GP2
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain Grand Prix
The Bahrain Grand Prix is a Formula One Championship race which first took place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 4 April 2004.The Bahrain Grand Prix, sponsored by Gulf Air, made history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East...
. The 2004
2004 Formula One season
The 2004 Formula One season was the 55th FIA Formula One World Championship season, running from March 7 to October 24, 2004. The season was dominated by Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro...
Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400
Desert 400
The Desert 400 was a V8 Supercar motor racing event, one of three V8 Supercar events held outside of Australasia. The races were held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Manama, Bahrain. Having run on the circuit's Paddock variation on the series' first three visits, the final Desert 400 in...
. 24 Hour endurance races also hosted at BIC.
History
The construction of the BahrainBahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
circuit was a national objective for Bahrain, initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The Crown Prince is the Honorary President of the Bahrain Motor Federation. TRL was asked to build the circuit, headed by Patrick Brogan.
Race organisers were worried that the circuit would not be complete in time for the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix
2004 Bahrain Grand Prix
The 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on April 4, 2004 at the Bahrain International Circuit. It was the first Formula One race to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Middle East.__FORCETOC__- Qualifying :-Race:-Notes:...
and attempted to cancel the event; however, Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
supremo Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
refused this request. In the end, the circuit was not quite fully complete, but was good enough for the grand prix to go ahead.
In the circuit became the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award, given for excellent safety, race marshal, and medical facilities, and for the high standards of technology required to maintain these.
At the 2009 Grand Prix
2009 Bahrain Grand Prix
The 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on April 26, 2009, at the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. It was the sixth Bahrain Grand Prix and fourth race of the 2009 Formula One season....
, BIC announced a collaboration with @bahrain to develop land next to the circuit. @bahrain is part of the Mumtalakat group of companies. @bahrain will dedicate more than 1 million square meters of business, entertainment and educational space with a value in excess of US$ 2bn (BHD 850million), making it one of the largest investment projects to take place in Bahrain in the past five years.
In 2011 the circuit was scheduled to be the first GP of the season. However, due to civil unrest in the country the race had to be cancelled in March 2011. On early June the FIA announced that the race would be scheduled for October 30th, the original slot for the inaugural Indian GP, which would be shifted to a season-closing date on December 11. However, two days later following concerns from teams and other officials, the race organizers officially cancelled the race, choosing to focus their attention on the 2012 running. The 2012 Formula One calendar has the race scheduled for March 11, the first of the season.
Construction and design
The circuit was designed by German architect Hermann TilkeHermann Tilke
Hermann Tilke is a German engineer and auto racer, who has designed numerous Formula One motor racing circuits.-Racing:...
, the same architect who designed the Sepang circuit
Sepang International Circuit
The Sepang International Circuit is a racing circuit in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located near Kuala Lumpur International Airport, approximately 60 km south of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. It is the venue used for the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix as well as the...
in Malaysia. The main contractor for the project was Cebaro-WCT, a Bahraini civil engineering company run by Khalid Abdulrahim. The circuit cost approximately US$150 million to construct. It has six separate tracks, including a test oval and a drag strip.
The circuit posed a unique problem. Positioned in the middle of a desert, there were worries that sand would blow onto the circuit and disrupt the race. However, organizers were able to keep the sand off the track by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track.
The surface of the track is made of Graywacke aggregate
Construction Aggregate
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world...
, shipped to Bahrain from Bayston Hill
Bayston Hill
Bayston Hill is a large village and civil parish in central Shropshire, England. It is south of the county town Shrewsbury and located on the main A49 road, the Shrewsbury to Hereford road....
quarry in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula 1 drivers for the high level of grip
Grip (autoracing)
Grip is a term describing the total cornering envelope of a race car by the friction of the tire as a function of i.a. the mass of the machine and the downforce generated.-See also:*Lift *Downforce*Bernoulli's principle*Ground effect in cars...
it offers. The same aggregate material is used at the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One race. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates...
.
Facilities
| Track | Distance |
|---|---|
| Grand Prix track | 5.412 km |
| Inner track | 2.55 km |
| Outer track | 3.664 km |
| Paddock Circuit | 3.7 km |
| Drag Strip | 1.2 km |
| Oval track | 2 km |
| Full Circuit | 6.299 km |
Series hosted
The Bahrain International Circuit hosts a number of high profile series, including the FIA Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship, the Australian V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
Championship Series, the GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
, GP2 Asia, Chevrolet Lumina Series, Speedcar Series
Speedcar Series
The Speedcar Series Championship was a stock car racing series that was active from January 2008 to June 2009 across two championship seasons. Races were held across several countries, spanning the Middle East and Asia. It featured up to 24 drivers competing in identical V8 620 hp stock cars,...
, Thunder Arabia and Radical.
In the past the circuit has hosted the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
, and a one-off Bahrain Superprix involving Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
cars, following on from the collapsed Korea Super Prix
Korea Super Prix
The International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix was a Formula Three race held annually on the streets of Changwon, Republic of Korea between 1999 and 2003...
. The first ever Formula BMW
Formula BMW
Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category...
World Final took place in Bahrain. Also every year there is the traditional 24 Hours of Bahrain.
Bahrain Grand Prix
The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on April 4, 2004, making history as the first Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the 2006 season
2006 Formula One season
The 2006 Formula One season was the 57th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship which began on March 12 and ended on October 22 after eighteen races. The Drivers' Championship was won by Fernando Alonso of Renault F1 for the second year in a...
, when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
. In , Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the season Bahrain was again the season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.9 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. For 2011 however F1 was set to return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009. The race was postponed and finally cancelled due to protests in the country.