BIC launches thrilling 2024/25 season

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: hussainm@newsobahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, is all set for a spectacular 2024/2025 national season – one that is bigger and better than ever – stacked with top-class racing and adrenaline-pumping fan experiences. The curtain-raising event of the new campaign was held last weekend with the first round of the Bahrain Rotax MAX Challenge (BRMC), and even more excitement is in store over the next several months.

Details of everything on offer at the Sakhir track were announced this evening in a Press conference held at the BIC premises. In attendance were BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bapco Energies Group CEO Mark Thomas, Winfield Group President Frederic Garcia, and other high-ranking circuit officials and guests.

Winfield

Earlier this year, BIC announced an exciting new partnership with Winfield Racing School, and this season Winfield will become an important part of the track calendar.

This world-renowned driver academy aims to develop a global education programme through a training centre at BIC capable of developing the most promising future drivers and mechanics. Winfield has an unrivalled reputation in Europe for the training and selection of talented young racers, and has produced over 30 Formula 1 drivers and two World Champions. Winfield Racing School provides the fantastic opportunity to launch a young racer’s career. Its projects also offer fantastic activation tools for businesses, VIPs, opinion leaders and key people by organising Formula 4 single-seater driving experience days.

National racing

A number of national championships will be putting on a show at BIC this season, headlined by the all-new Bahrain Touring Car Challenge (BTCC) and the fan-favourite Bahrain Drag Racing Championship. Building on the success of the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, the BTCC will allow more flexibility on cars that are allowed to enter, making it easier for new participants to join the grid and reduce costs for drivers wishing to participate. The BTCC is organised and run by BIC in cooperation with the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) and the Circuit Racing Commission. The new campaign gets underway with testing on 11 October, followed by the opening round on 18 October.

It will be just the first of seven exciting meetings running through to April of next year. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship is a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-sanctioned event, with BIC’s quarter-mile drag strip a part of the NHRA’s Worldwide Network.

Many top teams and drivers from across the globe compete in Bahrain, including NHRA powerhouses Bahrain1 Racing, and they will be going head-to-head for prestigious NHRA Wally trophies. The season is set to feature five rounds of battles, starting in December and continuing until February of 2025. BIC’s world-class grassroots racing facility, Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC), has already enjoyed plenty of action and excitement.

The BRMC’s season-opener was held over the weekend, and BIKC’s 1.414-kilometre CIK-FIA track will be hosting another seven meetings in the Kingdom’s leading karting championship. There will also be five rounds of endurance karting action, including four three-hour events, and then the main attraction of the 24-hour race, happening 31 January and 1 February next year.

Aside from circuit racing, drag racing, and karting, BIC will also be hosting competition in drifting, time attack, autocross, and burnout, in cooperation with the BMF, all throughout the 2024/2025 campaign.

Motorsport experiences and fan activities

The BIC calendar would not be complete without the wide range of motorsport experiences and activities on offer to the general public. These are favourites amongst the Kingdom’s thrill seekers, and are to be available starting this week, all the way through the season.

BIC’s offerings include Open Track days and nights; Ebrahim K Kanoo Drag and Drift Nights; Dragster Experience; Track Experiences featuring Clio Cup, SR1 and SR3 Driver and Passenger Experiences; Kanoo Motors Rolling Drag; YK Off-Road Experience; and Batelco Fitness on Track. These activities are available on select dates each month.

Visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000 for more information or to make a booking. BIKC is also open to the public daily and there are many options to choose from, ranging from arrive-and-drive sessions for individuals to mini grands prix for groups.

Bahrain Darts Masters

Off the race track, BIC’s list of world-class events this season includes the return of the World Series of Darts to the Kingdom for the third straight year.

The increasingly popular Bahrain Darts Masters is scheduled to be held 16 and 17 January at BIC, with a 16-player field featuring many of the game’s biggest icons. BIC and sports promoter CBX have teamed up with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) to bring the event back to the Kingdom and is supported by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.

Teenage sensation Luke Littler stormed to a famous victory on his World Series debut back in January – hitting a nine-darter during an historic event – following Michael Smith’s success in the inaugural Bahrain Darts Masters in 2023.

The excitement will be felt once again over two days at the BIC Dome, which will be transformed specifically for the occasion. Fans attending will be able to enjoy an electric atmosphere while showcasing their wacky costumes and fancy dresses.

With the date for next year’s Bahrain Darts Masters confirmed, tickets are now available for this incredible event at bahraingp.com, with a 30 per cent Early Bird Discount for a limited time only. These and so much more are only available at BIC. For more information, visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline.