Circuit Information

Location: Sakhir, Bahrain
Lap : 5.412km/3.363 miles | Offset : 0.246km | Race : 57 Laps - 308.238km/191.539 miles
The Circuit :
The Bahrain International Circuit is located 30kms south-west of Manama, the capital. Known as "The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East" it was the first FIA Formula One GP to be held in the Middle East in 2004.
The Circuit has several layouts which are used for different aspects of racing. For Formula One the Grand Prix Track is used - with its 15 corners the length is 5.412Km. Designed by Herman Tilke, it has some of the best facilities in the world and its all located in a desert. In the evenings there is a somewhat "Arabian Nights' feel to the place. The architecture has an Arabian theme with an eight-storey VIP viewing tower now iconic to the Bahrain GP.

Grandstands
All Grandstands are covered to protect from the desert sun, and with TV screens placed in front it allows you to follow the whole race.

Main: Facing the pit area and on the main straight - see the cars exit the last corner onto the Main straight, then disappear into the first corner. See the build up to the start of the race and the chequered flag and podium. The F1 Village is located behind this grandstand.

Turn 1: At the end of the pit straight -see the cars sweep into the first corner. Overtaking often happens here as cars out brake each other into the slow corner. Don't miss the first corner in the GP!

University 1, 2 and 3: Follow the first corner action at the beginning of the race sitting in the University grandstands. From turn 1, the cars head into the left hander which is turn 2. With full acceleration they dive into turn 3 and see them disappear into turn 4. See them drive towards you again into turns 9 and 10 before accelerating onto the back straight.

Batelco: On the back straight, Batelco offers a panoramic view of the cars sweeping around the desert track. See the cars race into the hairpin of turn 8, followed by the right hand hairpins of turn 9 and 10. Picking up speed they drive the back straight at top speeds past the grandstand.

Victory 1 and 2: Used to be called the 'Last Turns Grandstand'. See the cars exit the back straight and hit the double apex on turn 11 onto turns 12 and 13. The cars travel downhill towards these grandstands so speeds will be fast before braking into turn 14. A drag strip separates the two Victory grandstands.

The show piece of the circuit with an Arabian theme is the eight-storey VIP viewing tower for 5000 VIP guest.