A special edition of the Gulf 12 Hours is set to be staged at the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend, starting tomorrow.
The popular endurance racing event has been held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi since its launch in 2012, but will take to the Sakhir track for the first time from January 7 to 9.
“Lining up on the grid will be a total of 12 challengers featuring some of motoring’s biggest global brands, including McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Bentley, BMW, Audi and Porsche,” the BIC said, in a statement.
“Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi is set to suit up in a Ferrari 488 GT3. It will be his second participation in the race, after also competing in the 2019 edition.”
Bahraini racing team 2 Seas Motorsport, which finished third in its maiden British GT Championship in November 2020 and counts Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa amongst its drivers, is also set to kick off its 2021 season at the Gulf 12 Hours Bahrain.
The racing action will happen along the 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track, starting tomorrow evening at 5pm with a three-hour free practice.
On Saturday, free practice sessions will take place at 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am. Qualifying will be held in the evening between 5pm and 6.15pm.
The Gulf 12 Hours race consists of two parts, each six hours long, split by a break during which teams are allowed to work on their cars.
The first part will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm and the second part from 5.30pm to 11.30pm. The podium ceremony will follow at 11.35pm.
In addition, on Friday, local teams will compete in the fourth round of the 2000cc Challenge 2020/2021 season. The two 2000cc races will take place at 3.12pm and 6.22pm.
“The Gulf 12 Hours Bahrain is the second major endurance meeting at BIC in just two months, following the 8 Hours of Bahrain of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which took place in November,” the BIC added.
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