Manama, October 11 (BNA) The Bahrain International Circuit, “the home of motorsports in the Middle East”, today announced details of an impressive calendar of events and activities on display in Sakhir for the 2021/22 season.
The new season will feature new experiences, coming to the Bahrain International Center for the first time, along with major global, regional and national championships, as well as the return of many events suitable for the whole family.
In a press conference held in Bahrain International City this evening, the CEO of the Center, Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, explained all plans for the new season.
“We have spent a lot of time over the past few months planning what we hope will be our biggest and busiest season ever,” Sheikh Salman said.
“BIC has been a very special place for so many people for many years and it is a moment of great happiness for us to be able to deliver such an action packed season that caters to all parts of the community.
“It is a new season full of excitement. A mix of new events and experiences, new racing championships, major international racing and major karting events, as well as many of our well-established popular activities.”
Bahrain International City will once again host the best of international motorsport in Sakhir.
In just under three weeks, the Bahrain International Circuit will once again welcome the Spirit of Le Mans with an all-time double header at the Bahrain International Circuit in the FIA World Championship (WEC). This is the world’s premier endurance racing series, featuring four highly competitive classes, and the Kingdom has been honored with the distinction of hosting the last two rounds of the 2021 season at WEC.
The “Bapco 6 Hours” races will run in Bahrain from 29-30 October, and will be followed next weekend by Bapco 8 Hours in Bahrain on 5 and 6 November.
The six-hour race will take place in daytime conditions, while the eight-hour event starts and ends under the lights.
There will be a grid of 32 cars for WEC, while the Bahrain International Center-based Porsche Sprint Middle East Championship, the region’s leading single-model car racing series, will be held as a support event. There will also be plenty of off-track entertainment for the whole family.
Tickets are now available at a price of 5 BD for adults and 2.5 BD for children from 3 to 12 years old. Various discounts are available for double tickets.
On January 29. BIC will be hosting an all-new event, the Bahrain ProAm 1000. This flagship event for the 1000km GT capacity is dedicated to ProAm cars, and will become the only global endurance race available exclusively for ProAm drivers and Am groups. It will take 185 laps of the BIC Grand Prix circuit, which is open to the GT3, GT4 and Cup classes.
BIC has already received a lot of strong interest from teams willing to participate, especially from Europe, and more details about the race will be announced soon.
Bahrain will also host one of the world’s biggest karting events at the end of this year, with the Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) hosting the Rotax MAX Grand Challenge finals.
About 380 participants, along with more than 2,500 team members and guests, are expected to take part in the event, which will take place on December 11-18.
The nation-wide individual qualifier competitions resulted in the best quarter of over 75 countries being invited to Bahrain for the Grand Finals.
The event will also feature, for the first time, an exclusive competition for electric buggies, and this will be the first electric race of any kind in Bahrain.
In partnership with YK Pro & Sons, this season BIC is introducing an all-new exciting activity open to the public at the YK Off-Road Experience.
This will take place along a specially designed track where participants will be able to experience the true power of the Ford Expedition and Nissan Patrol. More details about the experiment will be announced in the coming days.
Another exciting and all-new offering at BIC this season is the McLaren Experience Bahrain, which features the absolutely gorgeous road cars produced by McLaren Automotive.
Last year, BIC had the pleasure of welcoming McLaren Automotive in its new home just at the entrance to the Bahrain International Centre. Today, BIC announces a new and exclusive driving experience, organized in collaboration with McLaren Automotive.
Participants will be able to drive a world-leading supercar, the 600LT, along the Formula 1 circuit. The experience is open to drivers of all abilities, with expert lessons guiding customers around the circuit and helping them control the car.
The McLaren Experience Bahrain will be officially launched in November and more details will be announced soon.
All-new experiences at the BIC are not the only things fans can look forward to this season as their longtime favorite is back.
This weekend, on Friday, October 15, the season’s first open night will take place, along with rides for passengers in a Radical SR3 and Clio Cup.
The EK Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights race returns from October 18, while the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, the world-recognized BIC series endorsed by the US-based National Hot Money Association (NHRA), kicks off on November 16 with its first game out of five: Rounds packed.
The new season of the 2000cc Challenge has already begun, and there will be more races in the seven-round campaign.
Moreover, the popular Batelco Fitness on Track program is resuming later this month following the sale events that occurred last season. The program encourages people in Bahrain to be fit and healthy and to come down to use the circuit for cycling and running. Batelco Fitness On Track is for people of all ages and abilities.
“When we tell people that we host about 400 events a year, many are surprised,” Sheikh Salman said.
“With all of this, I hope you see how we can ensure that the Bahrain Information Center delivers the best events and experiences throughout the season, and why we call ourselves ‘the home of motorsports in the Middle East’.