Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), in cooperation with national carrier Gulf Air, began today its official 60-day countdown to the region’s biggest and most highly anticipated sporting and social event: the 2013 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
The annual festival of top-class motor racing and entertainment takes place April 19-20-21 at BIC, “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, in Sakhir. It will be the fourth round of the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship.
Speaking at a Press conference held today at the circuit premises, BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa revealed an array of details about this year’s event, which will be the Kingdom of Bahrain’s ninth hosting of the Formula 1™ race.
Among the major announcements, Shaikh Salman unveiled the official slogan for this year Grand Prix weekend: “Imagine Your Moment”.
Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr Maher Salman Jabr Al Musallam was also on hand in the media gathering. He spoke about Gulf Air’s involvement and support for the Formula 1™ extravaganza.
Shaikh Salman expressed his delight with the massive crowd of up to 70,000 people attending last year’s highly successful Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
The BIC chief expects an even larger turnout this year, with the growing popularity of the sport and the rapidly developing motorsport culture both in Bahrain and the rest of the Middle East all contributing to the greater attendance.
BIC hopes to come close to matching its biggest-ever turnout to the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend of 100,000 fans in 2010.
Just as it is each year at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1 will not be the only racing championship that will be thrilling fans on the track.
An action-packed programme of international support races has been lined up by BIC, including once again the highly popular single-seater championship: the GP2 Series.
GP2 will be holding its second round of the 2013 season in Bahrain.
Other support races will be announced soon.