Tens of thousands of new international fans will enjoy the kingdom’s hospitality at the first-ever Bahrain Grand Prix taking place overseas, with the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hoping to entice Asian motorsport lovers and their families to visit the kingdom next year for the season-opening Formula 1 race.
During an exclusive interview with GDN ahead of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from October 2 to 4, BIC chief executive officer Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa detailed plans to showcase Bahrain to a new demographic of fans from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
“From a fan perspective, there are so many elements of Bahrain that we have incorporated into the overall experience, working alongside Team Bahrain and, in particular, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Gulf Air,” Shaikh Salman explained.
Due to regional tensions, this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix was moved from the BIC to Sepang International Circuit (SIC) – both designed by renowned German F1 circuit designer Herman Tilke.
The circuit at Sepang has its own set of challenges for F1 drivers and teams, including the heavy-braking Turn 1-2 complex, the high-g-force Genting Curve at Turns 5 and 6, and the tricky final Turn 15.
However, the biggest trial might be the climate itself.
“Whilst in Bahrain we are used to the dry heat, Sepang can get quite humid and rain is always a threat, which will make it interesting for teams when planning race strategy,” Shaikh Salman added.
“What we do know is that if you look back at the history of racing at Sepang they have had so many incredible races over the years and we are all very excited about the prospect of repeating that next month.”
Fans from Bahrain and around the world will get to see racing return to a track that has not hosted an F1 race in eight years.
And the anticipation is already showing, with many of the grandstands and general admission areas already sold out.
“I, therefore, already believe that our race in Malaysia has had a big impact on the sport in the region and woken up a new and significant fan base,” Shaikh Salman added.
“That is also very helpful for us in Bahrain when we are planning our next race at home at the BIC.
“There will be tens of thousands of people who will get an exposure to Bahrain on the ground in Malaysia, and we plan to use that to encourage them to come to BIC for future races and a full Bahrain experience.”
Last week, the GDN reported that Bahrain will be hosting the 2027 pre-season testing from February 24 to 27 as well as the season-opening Grand Prix from March 12 to 14, including the kingdom’s first-ever sprint race on March 13.
The BIC is hoping that international fans from the race next month decide to visit Bahrain for the season-opener, which will be held just six months after October’s Grand Prix.
“Ticket sales have been incredibly strong,” Shaikh Salman said, talking about the Sepang race.
“In terms of the mix, the location of the race has meant we have attracted a lot more from countries around Malaysia, including Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
“Malaysia itself will account for half the tickets sold.
“There is a huge market in that part of the world, especially in the countries that do not have a Grand Prix of their own.”
In addition, fans from the kingdom and the GCC will have the chance to watch the action live partly due to a developing relationship between the two nations.
Gulf Air is launching its Bahrain-Kuala Lumpur route ahead of the race weekend, for example, as well as two charter flights to support BIC and Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) operations.
As reported exclusively by GDN Media, BMF will be sending around 500 Bahraini marshals to the race to support the race weekend, alongside their counterparts at the Motorsport Association of Malaysia.
“This is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and so we are involved in every area of planning and delivery, both on the commercial and operational side,” Shaikh Salman added.
When the venue change was announced, the BIC had just a couple of months to familiarise itself with a new circuit and put on the race.
“It wasn’t that long ago that we hosted three races in four months under Covid-19 conditions, so I am proud of the team we have at BIC, which is able to innovate and be flexible to deliver a project in a very short space of time at a venue that just two months ago was not familiar to us.
“For our race in Malaysia, it was a question of familiarising ourselves with the venue, processes and team at Sepang as quickly as possible, come up with a plan and work hard to deliver it.”
The planning required did not end at the racing, as the team put together a roster of off-track entertainment as well, including two major concerts.
Swedish DJ and record producer Axwell will be playing on Saturday and Dutch DJ Martin Garrix will headline the post-race concert at a specially-constructed concert venue at the track.
“Aside from the live shows, we will also have plenty of family entertainment at Sepang on all three days of the race weekend,” Shaikh Salman added.
“This is our signature at BIC – to have something on offer for everyone, from young children to die-hard motorsport enthusiasts – and we’re delighted to be bringing the wide array of off-track entertainers and activities we are known for at our Grand Prix to Malaysia.”
In addition to the roaming acts and plenty of food-and-beverage options, the BTEA also has put together a fanzone showcasing Bahrain culture to fans at the venue, according to Shaikh Salman.
“We are working extremely closely with our colleagues at SIC as one team to deliver an incredible experience for fans at the venue and the millions watching from around the world,” he added.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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