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Plans for racing circuits in three countries are in motion with Bahrain-based motoring consultant Mark Hughes at the wheel.
The former Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) operations director with more than 20 years’ experience in motorsport has taken on a triple-header of new challenges in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
“All three tracks are due to host world championship events before the end of the year – World Superbikes in Lombok and F1 in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi,” said the 49-year-old founder and managing director of Mrk1 Consulting living in Jannusan.
“All three projects have their unique challenges but the critical thing for each is time. The first project we are working on is the world’s first MotoGP street circuit in Lombok, Indonesia.
“This is a circuit we designed and one that we will operate for the next 10 years. The second is the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. For Jeddah, my team is focused purely on the track operations. The street circuit is being constructed to host the kingdom’s first-ever Formula One race in December.
“Finally, we have been asked to help design and implement changes to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi ahead of this year’s Formula One Grand Prix in December. Yas is another circuit close to my heart as I was the operations director there previously too.”
Hughes helped prepare the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for its inaugural Formula One race in 2009 and was the operations director in 2010.
He also spent nearly six years in Bahrain helping to establish the BIC’s core operations team, budgets and procedures, as well as developing all its corporate and retail products.
Over the years, he and his circuit operating company has overseen tracks in China, Thailand, Russia, Italy, Austria, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Canada and the US.
And while he loves working on new projects, the Kingdom of Bahrain will forever be Number One in his heart.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to do what I love and to be able to base the company here in Bahrain,” said Hughes. “This is the island that became my home in 2004. I try to take inspiration from all of the tracks I’ve seen as well as the ones I’ve worked for.
“The Bahrain International Circuit is still arguably one of the most beautiful motorsport facilities in the world and I take great pride in the way it has evolved and been maintained over the years.
“I think it really sets the benchmark for maintenance and presentation and this is something we’ve strived to continue on all of our projects.
“With that said, I also love new projects in new territories where I get to meet people from a different culture and where we get to undertake our knowledge transfer programmes. We are strong believers in tracks being run by local staff, creating new opportunities and industries.
“I also enjoy the very first time a track hosts a major event and listening to the excitement of the fans, as well as the drivers or riders.”
Lombok is due for completion in October and both the Jeddah and Yas Marina Circuits will host F1 races in December.
“We’re well into the final stages of construction of the new Mandalika Street Circuit in Indonesia,” explained Hughes. “This is a project we have been working on for some time now and it is unique in that Mrk1 designed the track. It is also unique in that there is no other street circuit for MotoGP. The track is due for completion in the next two months with the goal (subject to Covid-19 precautionary measures) to host World Superbikes in November followed by MotoGP in March 2022.
“As for Jeddah, the new street circuit is currently under construction and we are on the ground helping plan and implement the track operations.”
According to Formula One, the track in Jeddah will be the fastest street track in F1 history when the race takes place on December 5.
Running to 6.175km with 27 corners, the Jeddah Street Circuit will be the second-longest on the calendar and one of the fastest too, with an average speed of over 250km/h predicted in simulations.
Located in Jeddah’s Corniche area, approximately 12km north of the city centre, the circuit skirts the Red Sea and encircles a lagoon, and with three potential DRS zones and an evening start time, it should produce spectacular racing under floodlights.
In terms of Yas Marina, Mrk1 Consulting took on the redesign work after being approached earlier this year and they are working closely with Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management and their other contractors in the delivery of the changes ahead of the Grand Prix that will be held on December 12.
“What makes a brilliant circuit? You can ask 100 different people that question and get 100 different answers,” said Hughes. “For me, it is all about elevation and levels rather than outright speed. I love tracks that rise and fall and have fast, positive camber corners.
“As the motorsport industry in the region continues to grow I hope that more opportunities present themselves for Bahrain to continue to be the home of motorsport in the Middle East.”
