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THE Malaysian Grand Prix has set the seal on the build-up to this year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on April 13, 14 & 15.
Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso triumphed at the Sepang Circuit, delivering his first victory to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team – and being followed to the flag by team mate Lewis Hamilton.
Once more the young Briton made headlines, following up his third place finish three weeks ago in Melbourne with another step up the podium and a star performance in the race.
Now the teams, travelling media and organisers have made a sprint for the airport in order to reach Bahrain in time to set up for the 2007 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, in time for the first day’s activities tomorrow.
The logistics of what the European-based Formula One teams describe as the ‘flyaway’ events at the start of the season in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain are simply astonishing.
Each of the 11 teams travelling to Bahrain for the Grand Prix has brought 50-80 shipping cases, up to 40 tons of equipment. Of that over 30 tons is made up by the mechanical needs of cars themselves – three chassis, the engines, spare parts, tools, wheels and pit equipment. The remainder is made up of pit garage branding and extraneous equipment – even the utensils for the team chefs! Then, finally, there is the telemetry and computer equipment to account for.
Formula One has an information superhighway all of its own: there will be approximately 180 large computers and 300 laptops in use between the 11 teams, supplied by over 3.5km of power cable and sending information through 5.5km of data cable. The team members themselves – approximately 1,200 – will be equipped with 1,100 walkie-talkie radios and headsets.
For a warm climate such as the one Bahrain enjoys, the teams also need to keep their staff members cool and hydrated. Almost 37,000 litres of mineral water and soft drinks will therefore be consumed up and down the pit lane.
Approximately 15,000 litres of fuel will be delivered to the Bahrain International Circuit by the various fuel suppliers in order to meet their teams’ needs.
A Formula One car running for the full course of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend will consume in the region of 500 litres from the first laps of practice to receiving the chequered flag.
* Editor’s note: We hope you enjoy your action-packed Formula One special edition this week – all your favourite features including the Whisperer and letters page will be back next week.
