Off-track entertainment options at the Bahrain Gulf Air Formula 1 Grand Prix will offer fans plenty of thrills and magnificent sky-high views of the race circuit, set to take place between March 26 and 28.
A 42-metre-high Ferris wheel, a reverse bungee jumping machine, 40m high Konga ride and the classic Wave Swinger will be among the range of activities at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
Tickets for the three-day motorsport spectacular, priced at BD100 across stands and open to Covid-vaccinated and Covid-recovered fans, are selling fast, ahead of Bahrain’s first season-opener since 2014.
“We’re working with the Health Ministry and the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus to continually evaluate the number of seats we are selling,” BIC chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa told GDN.
“The ministry has not given us a cap on the number of tickets as long as the social distancing guideline of two metres between groups is observed.
“I don’t think we will reach the numbers we have in previous years but for us, being able to open up ticket sales to Covid-vaccinated and Covid-recovered individuals is a sign of things, hopefully, starting to get back to normal.
“And, we’re happy to provide outdoor entertainment in a responsible way.”
This year, BIC has implemented a single-price ticket, which would gain fans access to all three days of racing action. Seats can be booked when tickets are purchased and are set in socially-distanced pockets of one-to-five seats.
All outdoor attractions will have sanitisation and social distancing protocols in place, in line with Health Ministry guidelines. In addition, a dozen socially-distanced outlets will provide food options in the vending area.
Lessons learned from hosting the double-header last season have been implemented, added Shaikh Salman.
“This year, there will be two tents at each entrance gate, one exclusively for verification of Covid vaccination and recovery, and the other for regular security screening and ticket verification,” he said.
“We have added an extra gate to ensure that people don’t have to wait long in line.”
Each of the BIC’s staff and suppliers will be tested for Covid-19 every five days in a separate facility. In addition, each team will have its own test facility.
“The teams will be trying to maintain bubbles of four to five people with only one designated F1 representative allowed to go talk to them,” Shaikh Salman added.
“In the event of a positive Covid-19 result, we will rely on Bahrain’s proven healthcare infrastructure to ensure appropriate quarantine and contact tracing protocols are followed.”
Spectators will not have an opportunity to interact in person with their favourite drivers. However, Laurence Jones, head of marketing and communications at BIC, revealed that race organisers were discussing the possibility of staging ‘virtual autograph sessions’ to allow fans to interact with the drivers, as well as offering autographed merchandise.
“We have the advantage of having teams here during the pre-season testing so we can have some of those discussions and we will have more concrete details early next week,” he added.
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit bahraingp.com
naman@gulfweekly.com
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