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Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, signed a new five-year deal with Formula One, extending its sponsorship of the kingdom's F1 Grand Prix.
The signing ceremony was held during the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday. Gulf Air chief executive Bjorn Naf and Allsport chief executive Patrick McNally were present during the occasion.
Allsport own the commercial rights to the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix among other races on the F1 calendar.
At the ceremony prior to the F1 race Naf said: "We are delighted and proud to extend our association with F1. 'Business friendly Bahrain' is the home of motor sports in the Middle East, and our continued alliance with this world-class event reinforces our pioneering spirit and our support of the growth and development of the Kingdom."
Gulf Air has been the title sponsors of the Bahrain Grand Prix since its inaugural year in April 2004 as the first F1 race in the Middle East held at the award-winning Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
Welcoming the announcement, Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone said: "We are delighted that Gulf Air has extended its title sponsorship of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The race in Bahrain is one of the highlights of the Formula One calendar and I am looking forward to going back there in April for the 2009 F1 race."
