Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Motorsport enthusiasts have been flocking to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) for world-class drag racing action as competitors vie for championship titles and trophies galore.
More than 200 participants, including 175 cars and 40 motorbikes, from the kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE are taking part in the season-opener of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, which started yesterday with a Test and Tune event.
The Test and Tune event continues today from 7pm to midnight and Qualifying will be held tomorrow, setting up the elimination pairings for Race Day on Friday. Racing will be held from 4pm onwards on both days.
All the racing is being held along BIC’s drag strip, which is a part of the US-based National Hot Rod Association Worldwide Network (NHRA).
Among the leading teams taking part are Bahrain1 Racing, who are back-to-back NHRA champions, owned by His Majesty the King’s Personal Representative His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
This year, there are 13 competition categories including the Pro Mod, Competition 4.5, Pro 29.5, Outlaw 6-Cylinder, Outlaw 4-Cylinder, Index 7.5, Index 8.5, Index 9.0 and Index 10.0 for cars; and the Street Fight 9.5, Index 8.5, Pro Street and Outlaw for bikes.
Fans can also enjoy passenger rides with the Dragster Experience where they will be taken from zero to 100kmph in just one second while seated in a top dragster.
The 2021/2022 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship is set to feature five rounds in all. Round two will be held from December 13 to 16, while round three will take place January 4 to 7 in the new calendar year.
The final two rounds will then be staged on back-to-back weekends at BIC, beginning with round four from February 8 to 11 and then the fifth and final meeting from February 15 to 18. The series is organised and run by BIC in co-operation with the Bahrain Motor Federation, Bahrain Drag Racing Club and Bahrain Motorcycle Club.
Tickets are available online at BIC’s official website and at the gate. They cost BD2 for each day of Test and Tune, and BD5 for the Start Line Grandstand or BD3 for the Batelco Grandstand for Qualifying and Race Day. Tickets for children aged 12 and under are half price.
For details, visit bahraingp.com or call 1745000.
