Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will be the main support race of the Gulf Air Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix to be held at Bahrain International Circuit from April 1 to 3.
The announcement was made at a Press conference last night at the BIC to mark the official 42-day countdown for the Kingdom’s biggest social and sporting extravaganza.
The Porsche GT3 Cup is a local favourite born and bred at BIC and it calls Sakhir its home circuit. It will be staging an exhibition round at the Grand Prix with competitors coming from all over the world including the very best around the Gulf, including Bahrain.
The exhibition follows the completion of the 2015-2016 season, which is scheduled to end with a sixth and final round in March.
Competitors will be racing in identical Porsche GT3 Cup (991) cars.
Among those who have raced so far this season include Jeffrey Schmidt of Switzerland, Zaid Ashkanani of Kuwait, Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal and Prince Saud Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, and Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa and his Team Bahrain partner Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.
The 57-lap Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to flag off at 6pm on Sunday, April 3. Qualifying on Saturday, April 2, will start at the same time, while an hour-long third practice session will be held from 3pm to 4pm.
On Friday, April 1, practice one kicks off the weekend’s action from 2pm to 3.30pm and then practice two will be held under floodlights from 6pm to 7.30pm.
All 11 F1 teams will be vying for a coveted place on the podium, including world champions Mercedes and the talented pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
“The 2016 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is right around the corner, and it is our time to shine once again,” said BIC commercial director Sherif Al Mahdy.
“All eyes will be on the Kingdom of Bahrain in just a few weeks, and we are extremely excited to be hosting yet another memorable weekend for all the fans who will be joining us here at BIC, as well as for the millions watching on live television around the world.
The mega event will be the 12th edition of F1’s only desert race and it will mark the second round of the this year’s FIA Formula One World Championship.
It will be the third successive year that the action will be taking place at sunset under BIC’s state-of-the-art lighting system, which will make for a spectacle that is unique to the F1 calendar.
“In its twelfth year now, we are delighted to continue working alongside Bahrain International Circuit, as we serve the Kingdom of Bahrain, support its ongoing economic growth and strive to raise awareness of the many attractions Bahrain has to offer,” said Gulf Air’s chief commercial officer Ahmed Janahi.
“Gulf Air has been the titlesponsor of the event ever since it made history as the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East in 2004.”
Tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix continue to be available. They can be purchased for seating along BIC’s Main Grandstand, Batelco Grandstand, Turn One Grandstand, University Grandstands and Victory Grandstand.
Tickets cost BD150 apiece for the Main Grandstand and BD120 for the Batelco Grandstand. For the Turn One Grandstand, they are BD100 each, while tickets for both the University Grandstands and Victory Grandstand are BD60 apiece.
Children aged three to 12 years old can get tickets for half the price, while entry is free of charge for those below three.
All tickets are for three-day access to the Grand Prix weekend.
Tickets are being sold at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre and Seef Mall (Seef District), BIC’s official website www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.