Manama, September 27 (BNA) The Bahrain International Circuit, “the home of motorsports in the Middle East”, today announced the details of what is expected to be the most active and ambitious season that the circuit witnessed on the 19-date of the year.
The 2022/2023 campaign is set to feature new world championship races joining BIC’s established racing calendar, new retail products to complement existing customer favorites, and new partners joining BIC to sit alongside its loyal group of track and event sponsors, such as Plus some new surprises.
The highly anticipated launch of the Bahrain Information Center calendar was held at a press conference held this evening in Sakhir, attended by the CEO of Bahrain Information Company Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mark Thomas, CEO of nogaholding group, and Chief Commercial Officer of BIC, Sherif Al Mahdi, BIC COO Fayez Ramzy Fayez, officials, guests and members of the media.
“A fantastic season of racing and entertainment is just around the corner, and we are proud to have put together a packed schedule of the world’s biggest racing championships alongside the best that the region and Bahrain have to offer, along with some incredible off-track performances,” Sheikh Salman said.
“The strength and breadth of our agenda is a testament to the wonderful experience we provide our guests each time we welcome them into the Kingdom, and we are proud that Bahrain Information Center continues to grow as one of the most sought after venues in global sports and entertainment.”
“There is something for everyone all year round at BIC and we look forward to welcoming you all for an unforgettable experience, whether on the racetrack or off.”
international events
Bahrain occupies a prominent place on the global motorsport scene with no less than four major international championships scheduled to take place during the 2022/2023 season at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Blue Ryband event once again is the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 March as the opening round of the 2023 season.
Next year’s F1 calendar features a record 24 races, and once again BIC is in pole position, hosting the first round for the third year in a row and fifth time overall.
BIC also announced today that F1 pre-season testing will return to Sakhir a week before the race. The three-day sessions, which will take place from February 23-25, will be the teams’ last chance to fully prepare for the new season.
After the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix which brought record crowds to the BIC at unprecedented levels – particularly from international fans who have grown by over 50% compared to 2019 – the circuit is keen to continue this momentum.
BIC is working with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and the national carrier of Gulf Air to attract more international fans to the Kingdom’s massive celebration of the best in world motorsports and amazing entertainment.
A variety of travel packages will be available to fans, while ticket sales will launch very soon.
Another major international race weekend on the BIC calendar is the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 11-12. This will be the closing meeting of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and it will be the culmination of the series’ 10th anniversary season.
Also taking place during Bapco’s 8-hour holiday in Bahrain will be the WTCR Bahrain Race, which is part of the 2022 WTCR-FIA World Touring Car Cup.
The WTCR won’t be the only new tournament to sweep Sakhir. BIC will also host for the first time the Bahrain ProAm 1000 exhibition, scheduled for January 27-28 next year. The event is a groundbreaking GT endurance race that will feature a high-quality field of GT3, GT4 and Cup cars from around the world battled over 1,000 kilometres.
Regional and National Championships
The best motorsport series in the Middle East and the Kingdom of Bahrain will once again hit the tarmac along the various racing facilities at the Bahrain International Centre.
Sakhir-based Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, the region’s first one-man-made series, will run a number of tours in Bahrain.
Meanwhile, BIC will receive the TCR Series in the Middle East, the only championship in the Gulf dedicated exclusively to TCR cars. BIC will host the third round of the current season for the relaunched tournament as part of the Bahrain ProAm 1000 weekend on January 27 and 28.
The national racing calendar will be topped by the hugely popular Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, which features many teams and drivers from around the world including NHRA Champions Bahrain1Racing. The season is set to include five rounds of head-to-head combat starting in December and running through February of 2023.
The BIC 2,000cc Challenge will also be a top draw among track racing enthusiasts, as many of the kingdom’s best respected drivers are suited to the hot bumper-to-shock absorber competition in their 2-liter rivals. This 2,000 cc campaign will include five rounds, starting in October and ending in April of next year.
Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC), the world-class popular racing facility at the Bahrain International Centre, will also host a lot of excitement this season. The 1,414 kilometer CIK-FIA track will be the stage for the Sakhir Rotax Max Challenge (SRMC) and the Bahrain Rotax Max Challenge (BRMC) – the Kingdom’s highly competitive karting championships featuring competitors racing their own Rotax karts.
SRMC will hold four rounds in September and October, while BRMC will have eight meetings that will take place from November to March of 2023.
The local championships will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit in autocross and drift racing.
Retail calendar offers and new partners
No BIC calendar would be complete without a wide range of motorsport activities on display to the public.
These include Open Days and Nights, Ebrahim K. Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights, Track Experience featuring BNI Clio Cup and Radical Trials, Kanoo Motors Rolling Drag, YK Off-Road Experience, and Batelco Fitness on Track. .
The BIC Information Center is also pleased to welcome BNI as the main sponsor of the Clio Cup Experiences, part of the Track Experience offering. Experience driving the BNI Clio Cup is perhaps the most popular way for racing enthusiasts to start their career on the right track.
All of these activities are available on specific dates every month from October through to April of next year. Visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC hotline at +973-17450000 for dates or to make a reservation.
BIKC is also open to the public daily for access and driving sessions. The karting track also provides special time for competitive pitch training and various other activities such as the F1-inspired mini Grand Prix.