Ready for action

ALL hearts and minds at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) are focussed on the coming Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix after the big race set to open the F1 season back in March was rescheduled for the last weekend of October.

Details of support races have to be confirmed although high-level talks are taking place with a major car manufacturer over a new series and new contracts are being drawn up for entertainment around the stadium.
 
The track itself and the stands are ready for action after extensive renovation and upgrading was carried out earlier this year.

The BIC’s chief executive officer Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa says his team is more than up for the challenges ahead. He said: “We were always ready for it. We can’t wait to get back to the meetings and the rush because we’ve been waiting for this day for so long.

“All tickets were refunded after the postponement of the F1 race. However, some motoring fans asked us to keep the money as if they had a hunch that they would be coming back to watch the race.
 
“We are currently in discussions and meetings of what we can keep from our previous campaign and what has to change. Up to now our biggest factor had been securing an F1 date and now that is sorted we can get started.

“Our marshalls are renowned for being among the best in the world so for us it was never a question of ‘will we be ready?’ ... everyone knew they would be.”

In fact, not only is Bahrain’s F1 expertise going to be put to the test at home again – it will be exported too!
Bahrain’s marshalls and its medical team have been booked to help with India’s inaugural Formula One Grand Prix, ironically originally scheduled for October 30, which will now take place in December on a date to be confirmed.

Jassim Mohammed, marshall club events co-ordinator, said: “This is not the first time that Bahrain’s marshalls had helped another circuit during their first Formula One race. We were there for Abu Dhabi and now we will be there for India.

“The Indian Federation had contacted us because of our vast grand prix experience. Five of us went in March, saw their circuit and discussed all the preparation needed for it, from the logistics to the medical requirements.

“Our mission is to train the marshalls there and operate the event. We will have their marshalls shadowing our every move so that they will be prepared for the following year having gained the necessary experience.

“We were supposed to fly to India in July for our first advanced training session but, now that we have the Bahrain Grand Prix back, the Indian officials will come here instead and receive practical training during our race.

“In November we will fly to India for a final circuit check-up and by the second week of December, 150 of our marshalls will fly to India four days before the Grand Prix. We are confident and ready for it.”

Shaikh Salman also praised the Bahrain Motor Federation and its president Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa for their role in getting the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix reinstated.

BIC’s chairman Zayed Rashed Al Zayani also revealed that the event has been provisionally scheduled as next season’s opening race on March 11.

Formula 1 has unveiled a record 21-race calendar for 2012, with the US Grand Prix returning to the schedule for the first time since 2007. Austin, Texas, which has agreed a 10-year deal, will host the race on June 17, one week after the Canadian GP.

Shaikh Salman said: “It will absolutely not be difficult as we have a great team at the BIC and I am 100 per cent confident that we can do both races. But for now we are focusing on the coming race, which we hope will include international and local support series as well as a fantastic line-up of off-the-track entertainment for fans.”
 
The F1 decision follows news that the karting world’s elite races will be coming to the BIC’s state-of-the-art karting track just one weekend later. CIK-FIA Under-18 World Championship and Academy Trophy will be staged on November 3-5.

The grand opening of the BKIC was meant to coincide with the F1 race in March.