Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 brings international flavour to BIC

Manama, Mar. 27 (BNA): The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 is set to be a massive global spectacle, with countries from all over the world being represented on the grid at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) this Friday to Sunday (Editor’s note: March 29 to 31). A total 59 drivers will be flying the flags of 30 nations in the three racing championships hitting the tarmac in Sakhir. They include the headlining FIA Formula 1 World Championship, which is being supported by the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. Formula 1 alone will have the world’s attention focused on its 20 racers coming from 15 different countries, including Great Britain, Germany, Finland, Italy, Monaco, France, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Thailand, Russia and Poland. Many of these nations are also represented in Formula 2, in addition to Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Colombia and the USA. Meanwhile, the Porsche GT3 Cup is set to bring in a mix of international and Middle Eastern talent to the weekend’s racing. Drivers from countries such as Cyprus, Turkey, Luxembourg, Sweden, Austria and South Africa will be joined by Arabian Gulf aces from Oman and hosts Bahrain. Only one day remains before the official start of racing action on Friday as the global motorsport spotlight shines on Bahrain. More of Formula 1’s star drivers continued to arrive on the island ahead of the weekend. Amongst the latest Formula 1 competitors spotted at Bahrain International Airport were Mercedes ace and wining driver from the Australian Grand Prix nearly a fortnight ago Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, the Toro Rosso pair of Daniil Kvyat and Alexander Albon, and Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi. They, along with officials from Formula 1, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and the other participating bodies have touched down in the Kingdom of Bahrain. They were received upon reaching the country by the warm and welcoming team members of BIC’s Meet and Greet Staff. Things were not only busy at the airport. It was the same at the BIC premises, with set-up work across the circuit virtually complete ahead of the start of racing on Friday. The unpacking of cargo weighing over 600 tonnes has been done and things have taken shape in BIC’s Formula 1 Pit Lane and the Paddock, with the team garages and bases being put up. BIC’s 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track had already undergone its regular scrubbing, hydro-blasting, power washing and painting, as have the canopies along the grandstands and the individual seats. This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix marks the second round of the 2019 FIA Formula 1 World Championship and race no. 999 in the history of the top flight. It is also the 15th edition of the event and the sixth time it is taking place under BiC’s state-of-the-art floodlights as a night race. Racing Point’s Sergio Perez is looking forward to the start of racing and hopefully emulating some success he had in the past in BIC. "I think most drivers enjoy the Bahrain circuit," the Mexican explained. "The layout allows a lot of side-by-side racing and you can find few good places to overtake. The part I enjoy the most is sector one – it’s a nice design and if you lose a position in turn one, you can fight back immediately in the following three corners. "I’ve had some great battles there over the years and I was on the podium in 2014, which was a special moment in my career." McLaren’s Spaniard Sainz will be looking for a good result Bahrain where he enjoys the "unique" characteristics of the race weekend. Sainz commented: "Bahrain will be a fresh start and another chance to try to maximise our results on track. The schedule in Bahrain is different to other grands prix due to the late start of the sessions but I quite like it for a change and it makes this venue unique. Racing under the floodlights is always an interesting experience and I look forward to a positive weekend." Tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix are selling fast, so those interested in attending the region’s biggest sporting and social event are advised to pick theirs up at the soonest. It is worth noting that BIC is covering the Value Added Tax (VAT) on all Bahrain Grand Prix ticket prices, saving fans from any additional expense to attend the Formula 1 spectacle. The prices continue to be amongst the most competitive for any event on the Formula 1 calendar. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket tent next to Sakhir Petrol Station on the way to BIC, at the BIC stands at The Avenues or at Bahrain City Centre, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.