Stage set for a fantastic grand prix weekend at BIC

All eyes will be on Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), as the 2015 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will kick off in grand fashion in Sakhir today.

The world will be watching as Formula One’s star drivers take to the 5.412-kilometre desert track for the first time this season in a pair of Free Practice sessions.

Practice one is scheduled to take place between 2pm and 3.30pm. The mood will then shift when BIC lights up your night with its state-of-the-art floodlighting system, which will brilliantly illuminate the circuit for Practice two from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Formula One is to be complemented on the track by the GP2 Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

Commenting on the start of this year’s Formula One extravaganza, BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa said, “We are ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, and this is our biggest event of the year. It is time for us to step up and showcase the best of Bahrain to the rest of the world.”

Formula One’s defending World champion and 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes said he was looking forward to this weekend’s racing, especially following his spectacular battle with teammate Nico Rosberg en route to his victory under the stars last year.

“Last year we had an amazing race here, it was really fantastic, great fun, huge-huge challenge both for Nico and for me and hopefully… that was the first night race here,” Hamilton added.