2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix countdown begins

Manama : Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is getting all geared up to host this year’s biggest and most awaited event: the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix as the 50-day countdown begins today to the Formula One weekend which takes place from April 14 to 16 in Sakhir.

The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the third of 20 rounds of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. It will be the first night race of the season, and the fourth year in a row that the world’s fastest single-seaters will be shining in the Sakhir desert under BIC’s floodlighting system.

As part of the exciting lead-up to the three-day spectacle, BIC announced yesterday details of the race weekend in a Press conference held at BIC’s premises in Sakhir.

Speaking at the event were BIC Commercial Director Sherif Al Mahdy and Gulf Air Director of Sales and Marketing Yahya Bu Ali.

Al Mahdy commented: “Following the tremendous success of the Bahrain Grand Prix the past few years, we at BIC are inspired to once again deliver one of the best packages combining motorsport and entertainment on the Formula 1 World Championship and already we feel the excitement and anticipation for what’s to come. 

“We have had an excellent response to our Early Bird discount and tickets continue to sell fast.”

Continuing Al Mahdy said, “We are pleased to announce that, with our partners @Bahrain, international fans will be able to book discounted packages of flights, hotels and tickets through a huge network of travel agents across the world. 

Slogan, official song

Al Mahdy revealed that the slogan for this year’s race is “See it! Feel it! Live it!” and added that BIC’s marketing campaign is getting all geared up to go nation-wide.

Also as part of the conference, BIC released the official song of this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix – a first for the Kingdom’s race.

Produced by Outlaw Productions and performed by hip hop duo Daffy and Flipperachi, the song is entitled “3eshha Weyana”, and it was performed live, much to the delight of all those in attendance.

Bu Ali commented: “This is an exciting time for Gulf Air and for all of Bahrain and we are delighted to once again welcome visitors to Bahrain to attend the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.”

Game zone

Building up to the Grand Prix, ‘Race Fever’ a series of events a month before the Formula 1 race were announced, and includes a Formula 1 Game Zone, A Desert Drift Night Championship, a Neon Run at BIC and a concert by popular Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams.

The Game Zone will be held throughout the duration of the month prior to the race, and will be accessible only by Bahrain Grand Prix ticket holders. The Desert Drift Night will take place on March 16 and 17, and the Neon Run will be held on March 24, with the Bryan Adams concert on March 13.

More speed

This season Formula 1 is is going to be tremendously exciting and “unpredictable” following one of the biggest regulation shake-ups in the history of the sport. The new cars are expected to be up to five seconds faster per lap, which would make them the fastest Formula 1 cars in history.

Some teams have already unveiled their cars ahead of the new season as preparations begin to hit fever pitch ahead of the 2017 campaign.

Pre-season testing is scheduled to start next week in Barcelona, with the first four-day session from February 27 to March 2 followed by another four days from March 7 to 10.

There will also be two in-season tests, the first in Bahrain on April 18 and 19 and more details announced later.

Entertainment galore

Entertainment will feature superstar DJs Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike taking to the stage on the Friday of the weekend, ing ‘The Hum’, ‘Mammoth’, ‘Tremor’ and ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’ amongst their many classics.

In 2016 they were ranked the number #1 act in the entire world by DJ Mag, higher than Afrojack, Avicii and Axwell-Ingrosso who were all in Bahrain in previous years.

The pair have become one of the go-to acts for major recording artists, from remixing Lady Gaga over to scoring edits for megastars such as Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Snoop Dogg, Sean Paul to collabs with Ne-Yo, Kid Ink, Major Lazer/Diplo and plenty more and have won numerous awards over the past few years.

GP2 Series 

Part of the weekend is support races in the form of the GP2 Series making a return to BIC after a one-year hiatus. It is widely accepted as the chief feeder series to Formula 1, this single-seater championship will be holding its season opening round for 2017 in Bahrain. GP2 will also be holding its official pre-season test in Bahrain over three days from March 29 to 31.

Rounding up the support series line-up will be the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. As the most professional and successful one-make GT series in the region, the series features some of the most talented young drivers in the Arab world. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will be staging its final round of the 2016/2017 season.

Offtrack 

Offtrack entertainment includes for the first time, a Dino and Ice Age Tent in the Formula 1 Village and the exhibit will include a total of 24 Dinosaurs and 10 Ice Age animals, a maze, back drop scenes, an interactive area and a dino photo booth.

Also for the first time, fans will be able to enjoy a haunted house experience at the Grand Prix, filled with zombies, ghosts and other creatures that will give you chills and excitement. Other entertainment experiences will include the Pedal Punk circus, a high dive act and Flight Crew Jump Rope, as well as other shows and roaming performers, including Sign Spinners, Ballerinas, Flowers Parade, Crazy Clowns, and others.

The Kids Zone, younger fans can enjoy a Playdough City, a Bubbles Show and Workshop, Face Painting, a Balloon Twister, a Drumming Puppet, Magic Show and plenty more.

Ticket prize slashed 

Meanwhile the Early Bird Discount with tickets reduced by 10 and 15 per cent is available until February 28 for the five grandstands.

All tickets are for all three days of the Formula 1 weekend, allowing holders to enjoy the maximum experience.

Tickets can be purchased at the BIC stand in Bahrain City Centre, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.