BIC begins its countdown today

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) begins its 30-day countdown today to the 2016 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend scheduled for April 1-2-3 in Sakhir and the second round of this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

The 57-lap, floodlit Bahrain Grand Prix will be the highlight of the weekend’s festivities. Scheduled for a 6pm start on April 3, the world-renowned night race is set to be a brilliant visual spectacle under BIC’s state-of-the-art lighting system, and motor racing fans all over the world are being invited to get “On the Edge of Action” with a serene desert atmosphere as the backdrop.

All 11 F1 teams will be vying for a coveted place on the podium, including world champions Mercedes and the talented pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Mercedes have won in Bahrain the past two seasons, with Hamilton taking top honours both times.

Also returning are Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, and McLaren veterans Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, all of whom are former world champions.

Supporting this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix on the track will be the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, which will be holding an exhibition round.

Aside from the racing, there will be lots of entertainment for the whole family. These include theatre shows, children’s workshops, roaming acts, extreme activities and a Formula 1 Fan Zone.

Meanwhile, BIC has put together probably its best-ever line-up of world-class artists who will be performing live over the three days of the weekend. They include artist and producer Avicii, superstar DJs Axwell and  Ingrosso, and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

Those with tickets to the Grand Prix will be able to watch all the racing and enjoy the complete package of entertainment on offer.

Tickets for the entire weekend and the five grandstands range from BD60 to BD150, with children aged three to 12 years old getting tickets for half the price, while entry is free of charge for those below three years old.