Bahrain Preview
By Ian Lockwood
March 9 2010
The opening round of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship season takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit. Built on former desert, the track sits about 30 kilometres south of the island kingdom’s capital city, Manama.
In 2004 Bahrain became the first Middle Eastern country to host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship; this is the second time it has hosted the season-opening Grand Prix – the first being in 2006.
Several changes have been made to the track for 2010. It’s now configured with inner and outer circuits, a new loop, and has 23 turns: 13 right-handers and 10 left-handers. The additional loop, starting just after the old turn four, brings eight new corners – a fast left leading into a sequence of five bends followed by a quick kink then a hairpin – all with a significant elevation change.
The layout will be a new challenge for the drivers and should add overtaking opportunities. BIC’s desert location means sand blown on to the circuit by frequent strong winds can reduce grip levels. To help ensure maximum grip, the track surface was laid with a special type of sandstone. The Bahrain Grand Prix, with its Arabian climate and desert setting, presents competitors with a unique challenge: all must cope with heat, dehydration and sand.
CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2009
- New, longer configuration featuring eight additional corners.
- Additional conveyor belting has been fitted in all tyre barriers more than six rows deep.
- The paint from all kerbs has been stripped and re-applied.
FAST FACTS: BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
- Seventy thousand cubic metres (70,000m3) of concrete was used during circuit construction.
- Despite rumours, sand around the BIC has never been glued to stop it blowing onto the track.
- In 2007 the BIC was recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the FIA Institute, for its commitment to setting high standards in medical, marshal and race control safety.
- BIC’s 6.3km length makes it the second-longest track on the 2010 calendar, after Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps (7km).
- The 2010 Bahrain GP will run over just 49 laps – fewer only than the Belgian GP (44 laps) – but the race will be the sixth-longest, at 308km from lights to flag.
- Drivers will take part in a Make Cars Green photo-shoot at the BIC. The Make Cars Green campaign is an FIA initiative to raise awareness of more environmentally-friendly motoring techniques.
- All drivers will also participate in a photo-shoot for the Make Roads Safe campaign
Source: FIA