Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
FORMULA ONE champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he has one important racing ambition - as well as holding on to his F1 crown - and that is to win in Bahrain.
The McLaren driver came second on the Sakhir circuit on his rookie year and, despite qualifying third last year, experienced a dreadful getaway which saw him finish a miserable 10th.
However, Hamilton, MBE, who celebrated his 24th birthday last Wednesday, became the youngest ever world champion after a close fought season with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, ironically the winner in Bahrain for the past two years.
In an exclusive interview with GulfWeekly, Hamilton said: "The circuit and facilities at the Bahrain International Circuit are world-class and it's always a pleasure to race there.
"One of my aims for 2009 is to win at Sakhir, as it's a place where I have never previously won in Formula 1.
"Obviously, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has Bahraini stakeholders so the Bahrain Grand Prix is a very important one for everybody in the team.
"I hope GulfWeekly readers find the time to come to the circuit and sample the sights and sounds of Formula 1. Most of all, I hope we can put on a fantastic race for everybody in the grandstands!"
Through the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holdings Company, the kingdom owns a third part shareholding in the McLaren Group Company and according to the Bahrain International Circuit management Lewis Hamilton's championship victory has created huge interest and increased enquiries from both individuals and companies for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at BIC on April 26-28.
The new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 racing car will be unveiled at a press launch on Friday in England at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.
Champion Lewis Hamilton told GulfWeekly that he is already training hard and will begin testing almost immediately after the launch.
He said: "I'm looking forward to sitting in the MP4-24 for the first time - and the winter months are proving very busy as we have lots of new regulations to get our heads around before the first race. It's always an exciting time."
The British driver expects the race competition to be even hotter. Hamilton said: "Clearly, the other drivers will be looking to beat me in 2009, but I still feel I'm the one person who places the most pressure on myself - I don't look elsewhere for that pressure.
"I drive for myself, my family and my team - and also for everyone who supports me. I've always said I do my talking on the track - that's how I've always looked at it.
"There are massive rule-changes for 2009 so it will be a very different experience for every driver.
"The biggest changes concern the aerodynamics, which are completely different, the reintroduction of slick tyres and the arrival of the KERS (The Kinetic Energy Recovery System) device, which harnesses the braking energy by storing it in super-capacitor batteries which then release power to the driven wheels when required.
"There are two ways you can look at the new 2009 regulations: some say the rule-changes will create a greater performance spread across the field, so it will make the racing less close than it was in 2008. On the other hand, you could say that the new regulations will reset the differences between the drivers, making them all a lot closer.
"It's impossible to predict - but that's half the fun of the sport!
"It's no secret that I would like to have a smoother campaign in 2009 - I'd like to make fewer mistakes and I'm working hard to make sure that happens.
"I think there's a fantastic field of drivers out there and I would expect to see the same faces at the front in 2009: Kimi, Felipe, Robert, Heikki and Fernando. Maybe we'll see Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull up there too."
Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer of the Bahrain International Circuit, believes F1 is up for a fantastic season building on last year's drama.
He said: "Like countless millions of Lewis Hamilton and McLaren supporters around the world my heart sank, almost without trace, with two laps to go as I watched the broadcast from Sao Paulo.
"For Lewis to fail at the final hurdle for the second year running, at the same track and with the same points difference was just too difficult to come to terms with.
"The mesmeric joy and sense of intense jubilation at seeing him overtake Timo Glock, who eventually succumbed to what was a momentously big gamble on dry tyres as the track got wetter, was almost too good to be true.
"It was definitely one of those moments where you had to pinch yourself to make sure it was really happening.
"That race will go down in the annals - talk about edge of the seat stuff with huge highs and depressive lows - and what a season to go with it.
"Gone are the dull days of Schumacher domination. We all witnessed a vibrant Formula One World Championship which was action-packed and full of interest, intrigue and controversy from the start back in Melbourne to the very, very end in Brazil.
"In my humble opinion Lewis totally deserved the championship - the youngest driver to lift the world title. He had been the better driver throughout the year and had clearly learned from his mistakes in 2007. That didn't mean it was trouble free and that there is still a lot for him to learn.
"What he has already done for the sport is sensational; what the championship will do for him and Formula One in the future is going to be of 'Everest-like' proportion.
"Lewis started his motorsport career at a very young age behind the wheel of a kart.
"At a time when the BIC is enjoying enormous interest in karting - particularly from young people - one can only imagine the further interest that this popular win will do for the grassroots level of the sport in the years to come.
"Let's also spare a thought for Felipe Massa. His dignity and passion in defeat was clear for all to see and while he may not challenge for the championship again he will certainly be a winner.
"As for Lewis, McLaren and us armchair enthusiasts ... we can now look forward to another phenomenal season.
"As BIC starts its new eight-year Formula One contract there could be no better time to look forward to joining us at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix to celebrate not only Lewis's first championship (note first, as there will be many more) as well as the involvement of the Kingdom of Bahrain in this team that, with its leading driver, are in the process of re-writing the history books.
"See you at BIC on April 26 for the next instalment!"
