Top-class Bahraini motorsport is set to feature this weekend at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
For the second successive Friday, “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” will be hosting a packed programme in National Racing Day.
As part of the weekend’s events is the eighth and final round of the BIC 2,000 Challenge. Also taking place are the fifth round of the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK) and the third and final meeting of the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing (BMR) 600.
There will be plenty at stake in the upcoming event as a pair of season titles will be determined, including those in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge and the BMR 600.
Racing will be held along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre Inner track. Action is scheduled to begin at 2.50pm and continue all the way into the night.
Following each category’s practices and qualifying, their two races will be held under BIC’s state-of-the-art floodlighting system. BSBK race one will flag off at 6.30pm. It will be followed by BMR 600 race one at 6.59pm, and then at 7.30pm, the first race of the BIC 2,000cc Challenge will be held.
Race two in the BSBK will take place at 8.10pm, after which the BMR 600 second race is at 8.39pm. The final event of the night is then scheduled to flag off at 9.10pm with the BIC 2,000cc Challenge’s race two.
The podium ceremony honouring all of the round’s winners will then be held following all the racing.
All are welcome to attend and to cheer on their favourite drivers and riders. Tickets are available at the gate. They cost BD2 apiece for adults and BD1 each for children.
The BIC 2,000cc Challenge is a professionally run, low-cost championship that features some of the top gentleman racers in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf. They compete in two-litre cars and are allowed only minimal modifications to ensure a level playing field.
Heading into the season finale, former champion Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Honda CIVIC) will be looking to seal another title. He leads the field with 279 points on the standings, having claimed seven victories from the 14 races to date.
In second place is Alex Longden (BMW 3 Series/F20C) with 225 points. Hussain Karimi (Honda CRX) is third with 190 points.
Meanwhile, the BSBK is set for another pair of thrilling races. Riders come from all over the Gulf, Europe and Asia and they compete on identical Ducati 899 Panigale sports bikes.
Qatari rider Mishal Alneaimi has dominated the season, winning all eight races held to date.
In the BMR 600, Chris Rabie has been the man to beat, winning all four races this season. Rabie will be looking for another double win to end his campaign on a high note.
He and the rest of the field will be competing on identical 600cc Honda Hornet bikes.
For more information on National Racing Day at BIC, visit www.bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000.