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Bahrain International Circuit and Gulf Air this week launched the 2009 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix campaign as the countdown to the biggest international sporting and social occasion in the region gets underway.
With just 53 days remaining before the sixth running of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix the BIC and Bahrain's national carrier jointly announced the objective to stage the biggest and best round of the FIA Formula One World Championship in the kingdom under the theme 'Where the Heart is'.
Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer at BIC, said: "The countdown to our sixth hosting of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is now well and truly underway. We stand just days away from the biggest sporting and social event of the year, an event that in TV exposure terms is second only to the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
"Over the years fans of Formula One have come to expect so much more from Bahrain International Circuit and this year we promise to make it the most entertaining, biggest and best yet."
This year will see more action and excitement than ever before as new rules and regulations have been introduced to transform the F1 spectacle. Earlier this year the kingdom got a preview of what is to come this season as Ferrari, Toyota and BMW headed to the award-winning desert circuit to test the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) and put their 2009 cars through their paces.
With thousands attending last month's sessions, many more are expected to visit the 2009 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix to witness the gripping on-track competition as well as to enjoy the entertainment in the F1 Village Vending Area.
Abdul Rahman Qarata, corporate communications director at BIC, said: "During the 2008 event we witnessed almost 100,000 spectators attending the three-day race weekend. This year, we are hoping to go beyond this record to see a greater attendance as a thrilling season lies ahead.
"We know how much everyone loves the Grand Prix, particularly families and friends, and there will be much more to look forward to as we continue to focus on making this a weekend filled with entertainment."
Away from the track there will be plenty of added entertainment to look forward to. The line-up for race weekend will include three groups of five acrobats and buskers, stilt-walkers, balloon-makers, musicians, a face painter, children's play area and much more.
Last year's successful introduction of the 'Friday ticket' has promoted the addition of a new offer available to fans who are only able to visit the track on Friday. This new initiative is called the 'roaming ticket'; the idea being that it helps those who have to work on Saturday and Sunday get the F1 experience.
"With the BD65 roaming ticket spectators have the freedom to enter each and every grandstand on Friday and get different views of the circuit," said Whitaker.
Bahrain will host the fourth round of this year's FIA World Championship. The opening round will be in Melbourne, Australia on March 29 and the championship runs through 17 events in 16 countries before culminating in the final race in Abu Dhabi on November 1. As the world's biggest annual sporting series, F1 attracts a global audience of more than 550 million viewers and last year's race in Bahrain attracted the second highest number.
On track in Bahrain there will be a host of races on the bill supporting the Formula One action including the final round of the GP2 Asia Series.
GP2 Asia is a sister championship to the European-based GP2 Series and is where Bahrain's Hamad Al Fardan races for GFH iSport International team. He will be hoping to be in the thick of the action at the final round which supports the Grand Prix. It will also feature another event which partners up with the GP2 Asia - Speedcar.
There will also be plenty of excitement for fans of regional racing talent as Bahrain's own Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship puts on an exhibition race for a preview of what is to come this season when the championship starts in November. Organised and promoted by the BIC, the Chevrolet Championship will be contested over several rounds with the final round supporting the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2010.
The final international category on the line-up of events is the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup now in its 12th season as the official support category to the Formula One World Championship.
Bjšrn NŠf, chief executive officer of Gulf Air, said: "As one of the principle ambassadors for the Kingdom of Bahrain we are delighted to again be at the forefront when the eyes of the world are focussed on Bahrain.
"Our sponsorship started in 2004 and since then we have been instrumental in the success of the event and the economic benefits it has brought to the Bahrain economy.
"The race has also become a firm favourite amongst fans from all over the world and we are proud to have brought so many first-time visitors to Bahrain to watch the race and enjoy the many other world class facilities Bahrain has to offer."
The 2009 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on April 24 - 26 and will see plenty of action and entertainment for families, friends, adults and children.
Speedy the desert racer, the BIC mascot named by GulfWeekly reader Alan Barker, will be visiting schools across the kingdom to promote the event.
l For tickets call 17450000, visit www.bahraingp.com, the Seef Mall Outlet Stand. A new stand will open at Bahrain City Centre soon.
