Formula 1 teams have begun arriving in the Kingdom of Bahrain ahead of this weekend’s 2016 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
Team officials and staff members were among those who touched down in Bahrain yesterday as the days count down to the highly anticipated Formula 1 extravaganza, set to be hosted by BIC in Sakhir from March 31 to April 3.
The visitors were received upon their arrival at Bahrain International Airport by the BIC Meet and Greet team, who assisted them in the necessary formalities required to enter the country.
Members of the Formula 1 community are scheduled to continue arriving today and over the next couple of days, including some of the sport’s superstar drivers.
They will be busy preparing for all of this weekend’s action, which will mark the second of a record 21 rounds in the 2016 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Fans will have their first chance to see the Formula 1 teams up close during the Pit Lane Walk on March 31. The cars then go out on track for the first time on April 1 for a pair of practice sessions, and then on April 2 for a third practice and qualifying session.
That will lead up to the highly anticipated main event on April 3: the 57-lap Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled to flag off under BIC’s stunning floodlights at 6pm.
This weekend’s event is the 12th edition of Formula 1’s hugely popular desert race and it marks the third year since the Bahrain Grand Prix was switched to a night race.
Meanwhile, BIC has announced that fans will have a chance to meet their favourite Formula 1 drivers at an autograph session taking place on April 2, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
All 22 of Formula 1’s stars will be on hand, making for the best chance for fans to meet their racing idols, get their autographs and take pictures.
There will be an opportunity for fans to take away some valuable prizes on Race Day, before and during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
For the third successive year, “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” will be holding its hugely popular “10 Every 10” raffle, wherein 10 fantastic prizes will be given out every 10 minutes shortly prior to and during the 57-lap night race on April 3.
The raffle is exclusively for those seated along the Main Grandstand.
Winners will be announced from 4.45pm onwards, so fans are advised to hurry and get to their seats even before the 6pm start of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The long list of prizes includes brand new, high-end electronic devices. Among them are Samsung S7 smartphones, Samsung S7 Edge, Samsung Note 5, Samsung View, iPhone 6S 16GB, iPhone 6S Plus 16GB, Huawei Mate 8, Huawei Honor 5X, Huawei Honor 3C, HTC M9 Plus, HTC Desire 626 LTE, Xiaomi mi note, Xiaomi mi4i, Elephone Trunck P8000, Fitbit Charge WRISTBAND, Fitbit Charge HR WRISTBAND, Lava Pixel V2+, LG G3 Beat LTE, Redmi 2 Enhanced and a Redmi Note 2.
Winners will be identified by their seat numbers; therefore, they must be in their seat in order to claim their prize.
Those hopeful of taking away with one of the valuable electronic devices are advised to purchase their Main Grandstand tickets as soon as possible, according to a press release. Main Grandstand tickets cost BD150 apiece.
All tickets are for three-day access to the Grand Prix weekend.
Tickets can be purchased at the BIC stand in Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall in Seef District, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC hotline on +973-17-450000.
