Support sensations

s well as the main event of the 2017 Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix, a number of support races will take place to thrill fans in the build up to the big event.

Formula 2 was formerly known as the GP2 Series before being rebranded recently ahead of its new season. A premier one-make, single-seater championship, F2 is widely-accepted as the chief feeder series to F1.

Launched in 2005 as GP2, it has firmly-established itself on the world stage as it offers a combination of a fast, safe, high-tech car with a talent pool of the best up-and-coming drivers in all of motorsport.

Designed to make racing affordable for the teams and to make it the perfect training ground for life in Formula One, F2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine and tyre supplier so that true driver ability is reflected.

Since its inaugural season, drivers have graduated from F2 to the premier formula every year. The series’ first-ever champion was Nico Rosberg, who was last year’s Formula 1 champion.

In 2015, eight out of 20 drivers on the F1 grid initially proved their worth in F2. In fact, more than 60 drivers have so far received the opportunity to drive an F1 car as a result of their time in F2.

On Friday, drivers have a 45-minute free practice session and a 30-minute qualifying session.

The qualifying session decides the grid order for Saturday’s race which has a length of 180 kilometres.

During Saturday’s race, each driver has to make a pit stop in which at least two tyres have to be changed. On Sunday there is a sprint race of 120km. The grid is decided by the Saturday result with top eight being reversed, so the driver who finished eighth on Saturday will start from pole position and the winner will start from eighth place.

The Porsche GT3 Cup calls the Bahrain International Circuit its home track, and through the years has established itself through the direction of Austrian motorsport legend Walter Lechner, who leads head organiser Lechner Racing.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East features some of the most talented young drivers in the Arab world and beyond. They are given an ideal platform to broaden their racing experience on the region’s most appealing race tracks.

The competitors are divided into different categories, based on their racing experience and skills, in order to ensure an even playing field.

Race weekends are based on the ‘Arrive and Drive’ concept. They follow the highly- successful Porsche formula for one-make series racing, wherein drivers compete in identically constructed Porsche GT3 Cup cars, again giving every participant an equal chance to succeed.

Bahraini driver Isa Al Khalifa is hopeful that a victory will put him in contention for silverware and also inspire local drivers to try their hand in future editions of the series.

Isa currently sits second in the Bronze category, and he said: “I came into this season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East with my only racing experience being from karting. I was nervous, but excited, and knew that making the step up from a go-kart to a Porsche GT3 Cup car would be a tough but vital progression in my racing career.

“This series allows drivers like myself to experience the thrill and enjoyment of a professional racing series whilst learning in a controlled and structured environment. I’ve already surprised myself this season, and with my team’s help managed to achieve some great results. The Bronze category contains some very experienced drivers, and this is a massive confidence boost for me in my first season of competition.”

Drivers from 10 nations will take part in the two 10-lap races which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, the TCR International Series, one of the world’s leading touring car championships, will return for the second successive year for its second round.

It is affordable for car manufacturers and independent teams alike and it is capable of offering close and exciting races.

Some of the world’s leading car manufacturers are represented in the series, including Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, SEAT, Alfa Romeo, Opel and Kia.