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MOTOR RACING’s elite drivers will be tripping the light fantastic and dancing their way around the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in the first-ever Formula One night race to be staged in Bahrain.
Experts believe the new lighting system on the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will make the entire race track more visually stunning, adding a fantastic new spectacle for race fans that has never before been seen during the Formula One weekend.
A three-day extravaganza on April 4-5-6 marks the landmark 10th anniversary of the Formula One family roaring into action at ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’ and the night-race decision and major investment in the lighting is likely to pay off in more ways than one.
“This is the first year the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at night and we are certain it’s going to be a wonderful occasion and a never-before-experienced thrill for everyone in attendance and even for those watching on television,” a source close to the event told GulfWeekly.
“The lights are just spectacular around the track. They brighten it up so well and it’s an overall different feeling of excitement seeing racing being held under the floodlights. Moving forward, the new permanent lighting system has really opened the doors to so many possibilities.
“Aside from the Grand Prix, it can accommodate a variety of other track configurations, so we can hold everything from local races such as the BIC 2,000cc Challenge at night to some of the bigger, global series such as the FIA World Endurance Championship.
“Even with our very own experiences and activities at BIC, there can be much more done now with the new lighting system. An example is having an Open Track event during the night, something that has never been done before but I’m sure appeals to many drivers.
“Basically, the new lighting system allows us to explore many new avenues that we could not before, so this is certainly an investment for the future that BIC can greatly benefit from.”
A number of top internationally-renowned companies, in co-operation with relevant government offices, have been involved in the installation of the state-of-the-art lighting system at the Sakhir race track.
Its cost has not been revealed, although it is considered to be more than BD10 million by industry experts. Officials have stated that it is the ‘biggest development’ project undertaken since the circuit was first built and such a ‘significant investment’ demonstrates Bahrain’s long-term commitment to the sport.
The entire project has been managed by the Ministry of Works. The main contractor was Cebarco, with Musco Lighting, from the US, stepping in as specialist lighting sub-contractor.
Tilke and Partners, who originally designed the circuit, have acted as consultants and the quantity surveyors were Hisham Jaffar.
The luminaires being used are ones that can provide the required lighting levels for today’s high definition (HD) TV broadcasting. There are about 4,500 of them around the circuit, fixed onto 495 lighting poles ranging in height from 10m to 45m.
“With the race being held at night, there will also be cooler temperatures both on-and-off the track, benefiting both the competitors and race-goers,” the insider added.
“The cooler evening temperatures also mean that teams will have to make adjustments in their car set-ups – much different from what they are used to when racing in Bahrain previously. In past years, the Grand Prix started in mid-afternoon, meaning that conditions were generally more hot and humid.
“Further, the race being held at night would allow more people to attend, since regular office and school hours would have ended by the time the race is scheduled to start at 6pm.”
The three-hour difference in start time also gives those attending more of a chance to enjoy the family friendly atmosphere around the circuit.
BIC has lined up plenty of exciting events and activities for the whole family to mark the anniversary and officials will be releasing details shortly as part of the build-up and promotion of the race.
Aside from the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, the new lighting system also positively affects the way certain events can be run at the BIC, opening doors to an additional array of opportunities for both the circuit and its guests.
All kinds of championships can take advantage of the new lighting system. International series such as GP2, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, and other top-class events can now hold their races in Bahrain at night.
Furthermore, product launches for companies looking to make a splash with their customers when unveiling new cars or motorbikes can also be held during the night time, as well as other corporate events such as on-track team building activities, or the like.
l The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be the third of 19 rounds in the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship and tickets are now available. They can be purchased at the BIC stand at Bahrain City Centre; online at BIC’s official website www.bahraingp.com or on the circuit’s official Facebook page; or by calling 17450000.
Tickets range from BD150 on the Main Grandstand to BD60 for the University or Victory Grandstands. All ticket prices are for all three-days of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Special discounts on tickets are also available for children, senior citizens and those with special needs.
Motorsport fans can get an exclusive sneak peak at what’s to come in this year’s FIA Formula One World Championship when pre-season testing is hosted by the BIC.
Two four-day test sessions will be taking place in Sakhir – from February 19-22 and from February 27-March 2.
On selected days, the general public will be able to watch the teams work on their 2014 challengers. The open days are on February 21 and 22 and again on February 28 and March 1.
The 2014 Formula One season is set to feature arguably the biggest set of rule changes in the history of the sport. From the new 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines replacing the 2.4-litre V8s, to the Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) taking the place of KERS and all the other technical and sporting rule changes, Formula One teams will have plenty to prepare for, making the testing time as valuable as ever.
All teams are expected to be at the BIC including defending champions Infiniti Red Bull Racing plus archrivals Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes.
Tickets cost BD5 per person for each day of the tests.
