Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, announced today an action-packed programme of events taking place on the weekend of the Six Hours of Bahrain, slated for November 14 and 15 in Sakhir.
This year’s Six Hours of Bahrain is the seventh and penultimate round of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa revealed the information at a Press conference and launch held at Capital Club Bahranaat Bahrain Financial Harbor in Manama. Also in attendance were FIA WEC CEO Gerard Neveu and Benoît Tréluyer 2012 World Champion and 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans winner.
This year’s Six Hours of Bahrain will be another major celebration of BIC’s landmark 10th anniversary. Bahrain is the WEC’s only stop in the Middle East, giving race fans a special taste of the spirit of the legendary 24-hour race of Le Mans, France, which is the biggest event of the annual WEC calendar.
“We look forward to once again welcoming the WEC family back to the kingdom for another exciting edition of the Six Hours of Bahrain,” Shaikh Salman said during the Press conference.
“This endurance spectacle is a very unique event that has the potential to be a favourite amongst motorsport fans here in Bahrain and across the world.
“We had an unbelievably exciting pair of races the past two years in Bahrain, and I am confident that this year’s event will be even more memorable.”
Shaikh Salman added that he is hopeful the Six Hours of Bahrain can build on the success of the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix held in April.
This will be the third successive year BIC will be hosting the Six Hours of Bahrain, but it will be the first time for the WEC’s competitors to under race BIC’s the all-new track lighting system, which was only partially complete when the Six Hours of Bahrain took place last year.
The floodlights made their global debut at this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, and they have added a brilliant new spectacle to the racing package at BIC, enhancing the excitement for both the competing drivers and race fans.
"We would like to thank the people of Bahrain once again for their warm welcome for the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said Gerard Neveu, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship. “We’d also like to thank Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and the team at the Bahrain International Circuit for making the 6 Hours of Bahrain possible and for their full support.
"Last year we had an exciting race and a fantastic ambience in the paddock. In 2013 the FIA WEC was the first championship to use the floodlights on part of the circuit and this year we look forward to racing into the night with the full track lit up. We are also very happy to confirm that we have extended the agreement with the BIC for an additional three years and the 6 Hours of Bahrain will be the exclusive event in the Middle East. Bahrain is the perfect place, with its superb facilities, for the winter test and, of course, for the race.
The 6 Hours of Bahrain will provide entertainment both on and off the track and we are looking forward to returning to Bahrain once again in November."
The WEC will once again be returning with five categories of cars taking to the track, one more than the four it raced with in Bahrain last year.
The new addition is the Le Mans Prototype 1-Hybird (LMP1-H) class, which is the unique category for the factory prototype teams. Defending champions Audi and chief rivals Toyota return with their two hybrid cars, along with LMP1-H debutants Porsche, who also will be racing two hybrid-powered challengers, one of which will be driven by former Formula One superstar Mark Webber.
The other classes are the Le Mans Prototype 1-Light (LMP1-L), the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), the Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance Professional (LMGTE Pro) and Amateur (LMGTE Am) categories.
Meanwhile, apart from the WEC spectacular, the Six Hours of Bahrain weekend will also feature plenty of action from the MRF Formula 2,000 Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Both support series will feature plenty of high-octane racing.
The India-based MRF is one of the up-and-coming series in Asia. The MRF will be holding its second of three rounds in the 2014-2015 campaign. The season-opener will be held at Losail International Circuit in Doha in October, while the championship finale will be held in Chennai in January of next year.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is another fine addition to the weekend’s events. Based at BIC and run by Austrian motorsport legend Walter Lechner, the championship has established itself as the leading one-make GT series to come from the Middle East.
The GT3 Cup Challenge will be opening its 2015-2015 season at The Six Hours of Bahrain weekend. The new campaign is set to be held over five rounds, with racing taking place in Doha and the UAE before culminating with the finale in Bahrain in April of next year.
The series will once again be the platform for the region’s best drivers to showcase their talents to the world. Among them is defending champion Zaid Ashkanani from Kuwait, while others will be coming from across the GCC with the hopes of coming away victorious.
The MRF will be holding five races over the weekend, while the Porsche GT3 Cup will hold two.
Apart from all the action on the race track, BIC has lined up plenty of fun and family friendly entertainment for all ages. Shaikh Salman said that these include carnival games, miniature children’s rides, arts and crafts stations, food and beverage stalls, live stage performers and so much more!
Shaikh Salman said that more details on the complete entertainment package will be announced soon, along with some exciting news on a fantastic live show by an internationally renowned artist, which will be the highlight of the off-track attractions.
Furthermore, BIC will be opening its Paddock doors to the public so that they may get a chance to see up close and personal the WEC teams and drivers hard at work. The Open Paddock is unique to the WEC, and no other global championship gives as much free access to what’s going on behind the scenes.
Tickets to the Six Hours of Bahrain cost BD20 each. Children aged 12 years old and younger can get their tickets at half the price. Toddlers aged up to three years old can get in for free.
For more information on the Six Hours of Bahrain or other activities at BIC, visit the circuit’s official website www.bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.
