BAHRAIN’S Formula One racetrack is set to host different activities this summer, including eSports events, revealed a top official, as Covid-19 vaccinations increase and confidence grows to go out and enjoy life post-pandemic.
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa said successful hosting of the F1 race last month gave the circuit team confidence to be innovative by testing different models of engagement.
“We had 148 events in 2020 up to March, and in November we had the two F1 races, which was a big thing for us,” Shaikh Salman said in an interview published on marcopolis.net, an international online publishing company based in Paris.
“We were busy and as Bahrain is not being closed, a lot of events and a lot of motorsport testing events came to Bahrain.”
The interview was part of a ‘Bahrain Report’ focusing on investments, doing business, the economy and other topics, featuring interviews with key executives and government officials.
Shaikh Salman said this year during F1 a total of 8,300 Covid-19 tests were conducted of which only a dozen registered positive.
Before the pandemic hit the country, 360 to 400 events were held in a year at the sporting venue, that included karting, Comic Con and the IGN Convention. However, that stopped due to Covid-19 and the global travel restrictions introduced.
“The problem we face is that we do not know where this pandemic is going and yet people are so afraid to go back to normality,” said Shaikh Salman.
“You cannot just wear the mask, stay at home and wait for everything to come back. We worked with the government to be a test model to let us push people out there. Whatever we do is outdoors, you are wearing your own helmet, you are not sharing anything, etc.”
Shaikh Salman said they were the first global sporting event venue to allow fans in for Formula One that were vaccinated or recovered.
Due to the hot weather conditions over the summer months, the BIC is reviewing options to ensure activities continue in a safe and secure way, he said.
“We are focusing on our eSports and events where we are utilising the facilities, the fibre optics, the fast speed Internet that we have.
“We have started a cycling route on the outer track and a running course on the inner track.
“In the past, as a racetrack, I would have been against this pre-Covid – ‘we are a racetrack: they have to have engines and motors’ … but now, you need to open up and the demand is huge.”
The BIC last week launched the Fitness on Track, an extensive programme of activity for cyclists and runners of all ages, who were looking to maintain their physical fitness. It is open to vaccinated or Covid-19 recovered individuals who can cycle or run within a controlled environment at the Sakhir circuit. The event runs over three weeks with the next one scheduled for May 6.
“There will be a cost because we put on the lights; however, I think it is important to do these small things that bring people back,” said Shaikh Salman.
“We are not going to make a lot of money out of it, but especially from what we know from 2020, this is not the time to look into just pure costs.”
He added that a number of eSports activities for this summer was being worked on.
“We have an endurance race with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), SRO, Stephane Ratel, etc.
“We want to keep the image of the track out at the most relevant points.”
Furthermore, Shaikh Salman said if the vaccination rate continues to increase in Bahrain it gives the government more confidence.
“In Bahrain, everything has been transparent from day one.
“On the BeAware app or the Health Ministry’s Instagram, you have the number of cases and you can go through that and see what it was every day, how many first jabs, second jabs, vaccinated, and how many by percentage.”
The official further cited the efforts of the BIC team last year that designed 200 breathing apparatuses for non-ICU patients in need of respiratory assistance when the pandemic hit hard last April.
“We have so many solutions, so many stories,” he added.
Speaking about the investment opportunities in the sector, Shaikh Salman said its parent company Mumtalakat invested in McLaren and Prodrive with David Richards that enters the Paris Dakar Rally Team.
“There is an investment with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in the US where we have a two-time NHRA Champion team from Bahrain, and they are preparing a new car which I am very excited for.
“In the UK, with the British GT Championship, there is 2 Seas Motorsport and that is another Bahraini team.
“We have land next to us where we have Bell Helmets based here at the circuit. Bell is one of the big motorsports helmets manufacturers and they produce all their helmets 500m outside the track.”
Shaikh Salman said they were looking forward to the new exhibition centre next door to the BIC to build on these investments.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))