BIC lines up stellar programme on and off race track at Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) unveiled last night details of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022, a once-in-a-generation event for fans.

The race weekend is scheduled to take place March 18 to 20 in Sakhir as the first race of “A New Era” in F1.

The launch of the 18th edition of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix took place at a special Press conference held yesterday at BIC’s Media Centre, which included the unveiling of the new 2022 F1 car, with a special Bahrain livery.

Addressing the media and guests were BIC commercial director Sherif Al Mahdy and Gulf Air marketing director Mohamed Jamsheer, in the presence of BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and Gulf Air’s acting CEO Captain Waleed Al Alawi.

Shaikh Salman commented: “Our 2022 race is a landmark moment for the sport.

Fittingly being held under our slogan ‘A New Era’, the race will usher in the next chapter of F1 following perhaps the biggest revolution of rules in the history of the sport.

“The new season follows the epic championship battle we witnessed last season, with the whole world still talking about F1.

“In addition to the excitement on the track, we have put together a mix of incredible concerts and entertainment, suitable for fans of all ages.

“Together with our partners at Gulf Air and all of Team Bahrain, we are honoured and proud to be the hosts of such a landmark event.

We urge fans across the world to get booking their tickets as soon as possible as seats are already selling fast under our Early Bird discount.”

Captain Waleed added: “The race has always been an important global event for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Gulf Air and we are proud to have been the title sponsor since 2004.

“Together, we collectively navigated through a strange 2020 but were proudly one of the few airlines globally that continued to fly people around our network and supported vaccines, medical and food supplies to Bahrain.

“This did not prevent us from celebrating our 70th anniversary in the 2020 race including a flypast with our iconic vintage livery of the 70th anniversary, and in 2021, we made history together by performing a lower emission flypast to start the race using sustainable aviation fuel as we unveiled our new slogan ‘A class of our own to the globe.

“This year, there is so much to look forward to as we proudly announce the return of our exclusive Formula One packages on gulfair.com, in coordination with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority and BIC!

This would allow eligible visitors to book a flight, accommodation, three-day pass to the race, and transport to and from the race.”

Support series

There will be plenty more racing action at this year’s Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix with the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East all supporting F1.

F2 and F3 will be holding their season-opening rounds in Bahrain featuring many of motor racing’s stars of the future.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge, meanwhile, will be staging the final round of its 2021/2022 season, with the series’ newest champion set to be crowned in front of a global audience.

Aside from the racing, fun family entertainment awaits all those attending Bahrain Grand Prix weekend at BIC.

Tickets to this year’s race weekend have already been selling fast, and they are currently still available with up to 15 per cent off under BIC’s Early Bird promotion.

This offer is available for a limited period only and it is the last chance for fans to get Grand Prix tickets at reduced prices.

Discounts are also available for children aged three to 12 at 50 per cent off, with reductions available to students, those with special needs, and senior citizens.

BIC has also introduced an enhanced refund policy for 2022.

Full details of this are available on BIC’s website but the enhanced policy for both local fans and international travellers means spectators can buy with confidence.