Bahrain International Circuit - Revision history

Red marquis: /* Bahrain Grand Prix */

2010-10-24T20:18:09Z

Bahrain Grand Prix

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 24 October 2010
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	The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on April 4, 2004, making history as the first [[Formula One]] Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.		The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on April 4, 2004, making history as the first [[Formula One]] Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.

	The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the [[2006 Formula One season\|2006 season]], when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the [[Australian Grand Prix]], which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the ~~[[2006~~ Commonwealth Games~~\|Commonwealth Games]]~~. In {{f1\|2009}}, Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the {{f1\|2010}} season Bahrain was again the season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.914 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. From 2011 however F1 will return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009.<ref>http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/25978.html</ref>		The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the [[2006 Formula One season\|2006 season]], when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the [[Australian Grand Prix]], which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games. In {{f1\|2009}}, Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the {{f1\|2010}} season Bahrain was again the season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.914 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. From 2011 however F1 will return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009.<ref>http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/25978.html</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Red marquis at 19:51, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T19:51:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:51, 24 October 2010
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	\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain		\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain
	\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}		\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}
	\|Image = Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layoutsmall.png		\|Image = [[Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layoutsmall.png]]
	\|Image_caption =		\|Image_caption =
	\|Capacity =		\|Capacity =

Red marquis at 19:51, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T19:51:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:51, 24 October 2010
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	\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain		\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain
	\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}		\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}
	\|Image =Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layoutsmall.png		\|Image = Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layoutsmall.png
	\|Image_caption =		\|Image_caption =
	\|Capacity =		\|Capacity =

Red marquis at 19:51, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T19:51:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:51, 24 October 2010
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	\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain		\|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain
	\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}		\|Coordinates ={{Coord\|26\|1\|57\|N\|50\|30\|38\|E\|type:landmark\|display=title}}
	\|Image =		\|Image =Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layoutsmall.png
	\|Image_caption =		\|Image_caption =
	\|Capacity =		\|Capacity =

Red marquis: /* Layouts */

2010-10-24T19:50:13Z

Layouts

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 24 October 2010
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	=== Layouts ===		=== Layouts ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Red marquis: /* Layouts */

2010-10-24T19:46:04Z

Layouts

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 24 October 2010
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	=== Layouts ===		=== Layouts ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.~~svg~~\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.~~svg~~\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Inner Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Outer Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Paddock Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Red marquis at 19:41, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T19:41:53Z

New page

{{Motorsport venue
|Name =Bahrain International Circuit
|Nicknames =
|Time =GMT +3
|Location =Sakhir, Bahrain
|Coordinates ={{Coord|26|1|57|N|50|30|38|E|type:landmark|display=title}}
|Image =
|Image_caption =
|Capacity =
|Owner =
|Operator =
|Broke_ground =December 2002
|Opened =March 17, 2004
|Closed =
|Construction_cost=US$ 150 million
|Architect =[[Hermann Tilke]]
|Former_names =
|Events ='''[[FIA]] [[Formula One]]'''<br>[[Bahrain Grand Prix]]<br> [[GP2 Series|GP2]], [[GP2 Asia Series|GP2 Asia]], [[V8 Supercars]], [[Formula Three|F3]], [[Grand tourer|GT]] Festival, [[Drag racing]]
|Layout1 = Endurance Circuit
|Surface =
|Length_km =6.299
|Length_mi =3.914
|Turns =23
|Banking =
|Record_time = 1:58.287
|Record_driver =[[Fernando Alonso]]
|Record_team =[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|Record_year ={{f1|2010}}
|Record_class = [[Formula One]]
|Layout2 = Grand Prix Circuit
|Surface2 =
|Length_km2 =5.407
|Length_mi2 =3.360
|Turns2 =15
|Banking2 =
|Record_time2 = 1:30.252
|Record_driver2 ={{Flag icon|DEU}} [[Michael Schumacher]]
|Record_team2 =[[Scuderia Ferrari]]
|Record_year2 ={{f1|2004}}
|Record_class2 = [[Formula One]]
|Layout3 =
|Surface3 =
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|Length_mi3 =
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|Record_driver4 =
|Record_team4 =
|Record_year4 =
|Record_class4 =
|Layout5 =
|Surface5 =
|Length_km5 =
|Length_mi5 =
|Turns5 =
|Banking5 =
|Record_time5 =
|Record_driver5 =
|Record_team5 =
|Record_year5 =
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|Layout6 =
|Surface6 =
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}}

The '''Bahrain International Circuit''' (Arabic: '''حلبة البحرين الدولية''') is a [[motorsport]] venue opened in 2004 and used for [[drag racing]], [[GP2 Series|GP2]] and the annual [[Bahrain Grand Prix]]. The [[2004 Formula One season|2004]] Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian [[V8 Supercar]] has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the [[Desert 400]]. 24 Hour endurance races also hosted at BIC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bahraingp.com.bh/page.aspx?id=52|title=24 hour Race of Bahrain 15–16 December 2006 |accessdate=September 11, 2009|date=n.d.|publisher=bahraingp.com.bh}}</ref>

==History==
The construction of the Bahrain circuit was a national objective for Bahrain, initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The Crown Prince is the Honorary President of the Bahrain Motor Federation. TRL was asked to build the circuit, headed by Patrick Brogan.

Race organisers were worried that the circuit would not be complete in time for the [[2004 Bahrain Grand Prix]] and attempted to cancel the event; however, [[Formula One]] supremo [[Bernie Ecclestone]] refused this request. In the end, the circuit was not quite fully complete, but was good enough for the grand prix to go ahead.<ref name="notcomplete">{{Cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3567433.stm|title= Bahrain 'tried to stop GP'|accessdate= April 13, 2007|date=March 25, 2004|publisher = BBC News}}</ref>

In {{F1|2007}} the circuit became the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished [[FIA]] Institute Centre of Excellence award, given for excellent safety, race marshal, and medical facilities, and for the high standards of technology required to maintain these.<ref name="award">{{Cite web|url= http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5942/772.html|title= Bahrain named Centre of Excellence by FIA|accessdate= April 13, 2007|date=April 13, 2007|publisher = Formula1.com |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070415030500/http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5942/772.html  |archivedate = April 15, 2007}}</ref>

At the [[2009 Bahrain Grand Prix|2009 Grand Prix]], BIC announced a collaboration with @bahrain to develop land next to the circuit. @bahrain is part of the Mumtalakat group of companies. @bahrain will dedicate more than 1 million square meters of business, entertainment and educational space with a value in excess of US$ 2bn (BHD 850million), making it one of the largest investment projects to take place in Bahrain in the past five years.<ref name="award">{{Cite web|url= http://gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=248950|title= Jobs 'for generations to come'|accessdate= August 27, 2009|date=April 26, 2009|publisher = gulf-daily-news.com}}</ref>

===Construction and design===
The circuit was designed by German architect [[Hermann Tilke]], the same architect who designed the [[Sepang International Circuit|Sepang circuit]] in Malaysia. The circuit cost approximately US$150 million to construct.<ref name="circuitinfo">{{Cite web|url= http://www.bahraingp.com.bh/circuit-info.html|title= Bahrain International Circuit Info|accessdate= December 17, 2006|publisher = Bahrain International Circuit}}</ref> It has six separate tracks, including a test oval and a drag strip.<ref name="circuitinfo"/>

The circuit posed a unique problem. Positioned in the middle of a desert, there were worries that sand would blow onto the circuit and disrupt the race. However, organizers were able to keep the sand off the track by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track.<ref name="sand">{{Cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3580063.stm|title=Schumacher admits sand fear|accessdate= April 13, 2007|date=March 29, 2004|publisher = BBC News}}</ref>

The surface of the track is made of Graywacke aggregate, shipped to Bahrain from Bayston Hill quarry in Shropshire, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula 1 drivers for the high level of [[Grip (autoracing)|grip]] it offers. The same aggregate material is used at the [[Yas Marina Circuit]] for the [[Abu Dhabi Grand Prix]].<ref name="surface">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/shropshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8334000/8334811.stm |title=From Shropshire to Abu Dhabi GP |date=October 30, 2009 |accessdate=October 30, 2009 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

=== Layouts ===
<gallery>
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.svg|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.svg|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.svg|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.svg|"Inner Circuit"
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.svg|"Outer Circuit"
File:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.svg|"Paddock Circuit"
</gallery>

==Facilities==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Track<ref name="circuitinfo"/>
!Distance<ref name="circuitinfo"/>
|-
|Grand Prix track
|5.412 km
|-
|Inner track
|2.55 km
|-
|Outer track
|3.664 km
|-
|Paddock Circuit
|3.7 km
|-
|Drag Strip
|1.2 km
|-
|Oval track
|2 km
|-
|'''Full Circuit'''
|'''6.4 km'''
|}

==Series hosted==
The Bahrain International Circuit hosts a number of high profile series, including the FIA [[Formula One]] World Championship, the Australian [[V8 Supercar]] Championship Series, the [[GP2 Series]], [[GP2 Asia]], [[Chevrolet Lumina Series]], [[Speedcar Series]], [[Thunder Arabia]] and [[Radical Sportscars|Radical]].

In the past the circuit has hosted the [[FIA GT Championship]], and a one-off Bahrain Superprix involving [[Formula Three]] cars, following on from the collapsed [[Korea Super Prix]]. The first ever [[Formula BMW]] World Final took place in Bahrain. Also every year there is the traditional 24 Hours of Bahrain.

==Bahrain Grand Prix==
{{Main|Bahrain Grand Prix}}
The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on April 4, 2004, making history as the first [[Formula One]] Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the [[2006 Formula One season|2006 season]], when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the [[Australian Grand Prix]], which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the [[2006 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]. In {{f1|2009}}, Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the {{f1|2010}} season Bahrain was again the season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.914 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. From 2011 however F1 will return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009.<ref>http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/25978.html</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bahrain Grand Prix]]
* [[List of Formula One circuits]]

{{V8 Supercar tracks}}
{{Formula One circuits}}
{{FIA GT circuits}}
{{GP2 Asia circuits}}
{{GP2 Series circuits}}}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.bahraingp.com.bh/ Bahrain International Circuit]
* [http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/bahrain_789/ Circuit info from official F1 site]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/4/7576.html Duelling in the desert – how to master Bahrain]
* [http://www.bahraingp.com.bh/webcast.html] Bahrain International Circuit's Webcast

[[Category:Formula One circuits]]
[[Category:Bahrain Grand Prix]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in Bahrain]]
[[Category:Drag racing venues]]
[[Category:V8 Supercar tracks]]
[[Category:Motorsport in the Middle East]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 24 October 2010
Line 105:		Line 105:
	=== Layouts ===		=== Layouts ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"
	~~File~~:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"		Image:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"
	</gallery>		</gallery>

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 24 October 2010
Line 105:		Line 105:
	=== Layouts ===		=== Layouts ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Endurance Circuit.png\|"Endurance Circuit". Used in F1 in 2010
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.~~svg~~\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Flat Oval.png\|A flat oval that is visible in Google Earth
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.~~svg~~\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Grand Prix Layout.png\|"Grand Prix Cicuit". Used in F1 from 2004–2009, and from 2011 onwards.
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Inner Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Inner Circuit.png\|"Inner Circuit"
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Outer Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Outer Circuit.png\|"Outer Circuit"
	File:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.~~svg~~\|"Paddock Circuit"		File:Bahrain International Circuit--Paddock Circuit.png\|"Paddock Circuit"
	</gallery>		</gallery>