Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is all set to host one of the biggest events on its annual calendar: the FIA WEC Six Hours of Bahrain.
The endurance racing spectacle makes a grand return to Sakhir on November 20 and 21 as the eighth and final round of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa announced last night an exciting programme of top-class events that awaits fans both leading up to and during the event.
“The FIA WEC Six Hours of Bahrain is one of the major highlights on our BIC calendar each year,” said Shaikh Salman speaking at a Press conference which was also attended by WEC CEO Gerard Neveu and popular Porsche LMP1 team driver Brendon Hartley.
“We take pride in being the sole destination for the WEC in the entire Middle East. I would like to thank Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) president Pierre Fillon and WEC CEO Gerard Neveu for their trust in us to once again host the season-ending event. “
“We would like to thank Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and everyone at BIC for the warm welcome given to the World Endurance Championship and for their continued support of the 6 Hours of Bahrain, now in its fourth year,” said Neveu.
The gruelling Six Hours of Bahrain main event on November 21 is scheduled to flag off in the daylight at 3pm and end under floodlights at 9pm.
Competitive
Porsche ace Hartley will be one of several high-profile drivers who will be suiting up to race. Many of them have previously suited up for Formula One teams, and most are competing in the LMP1 class which is the most competitive in the WEC.
The other categories are the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Pro (LMGTE Pro) and LMGTE Amateur (LMGTE Am).
Also set to make a splash with the fans is American actor and former star of the hit show Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey, who competes in the LMGTE Am class for his own team Dempsey Racing.
The Six Hours of Bahrain will not only be featuring the very best of Le Mans-style racing at BIC, but will also include a massive support programme that would be the envy of any motor racing event in the world.
Set to light up the Sakhir track alongside the WEC will be four internationally and regionally renowned championships.
These are the GP2 Series and, for the first time ever in Bahrain, the GP3 Series. Then there’s the BIC-bred Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and the India-based MRF Challenge.
Shaikh Salman detailed a number of off-the-track events that will certainly get both petrol heads and casual race fans excited.
From October 15 all the way up until the race, a WEC-inspired endurance racing simulator will give users a small taste of the high-octane action in the endurance racing championship.
Another treat for the fans will be a series of raffle draws with plenty fantastic prizes up for the taking.
Meanwhile, family friendly off-track entertainment can be enjoyed by race-goers all through the weekend at BIC.
Those wishing to secure their tickets at the soonest can either get them online on www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.