First stone laid at the new Bahrain circuit
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First stone laid at the new Bahrain circuit
First stone laid at new Bahrain circuit 08 Oct 2002
Bahrain's dream of hosting the first Formula One™ Grand Prix in the Middle East took a step closer to becoming reality with the laying of the new track's first stone on Tuesday.
Bahrain has beaten off opposition from Egypt and Dubai to join the F1 circus in 2004, and is constructing an ultra-modern track at an estimated cost of 150 million euros near the town of Sakhir.
The Gulf emirate's crown prince, Sheikh Hamed Al-Khalifa, was given the green light to go ahead with his ambitious plans to bring Michael Schumacher and company to the desert after the signing of an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone at Monza last month.
"This is a historic moment," said Sheikh Mohammed Al Khalifa, president of the Bahrain circuit. "The track is going to create tourism and generate economic spin-offs."
Work proper is due to start in the next few days, with the last stone placed and the last grid marking painted by mid-March 2004.
The Bahrain leg of the world championship will be replacing one of the current venues with Spa in Belgium most under threat, and currently the only circuit on the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship™ calendar to have a question mark by its name.
A popular circuit with drivers, Spa's future is uncertain owing to the Belgian government's desire to clamp down on tobacco advertising. Bahrain by contrast has no such qualms about cars carrying tobacco advertising.
Given the high summer temperatures Bahrain is looking at slotting into the calendar at the end of the season.
"It can only be at the end of the year because of the heat in the summer," said Peter Hansen, the circuit's Danish executive director.
Famed track architect Herman Tilke has designed the venue, which will have three circuits, a drag track and a main grandstand capable of holding 16,000 spectators.
The 5.475-kilometre (3.30-mile) circuit will have an estimated lap time for a Formula One car of 1 minute 35 seconds, and an average speed of 196 kilometres per hour (122.5 miles per hour).
The track is to be sited 30km from the Bahrain capital and resembles the circuit of Sepang in Malaysia.
SOURCE: AFP
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/10/s10812.html
Bahrain's dream of hosting the first Formula One™ Grand Prix in the Middle East took a step closer to becoming reality with the laying of the new track's first stone on Tuesday.
Bahrain has beaten off opposition from Egypt and Dubai to join the F1 circus in 2004, and is constructing an ultra-modern track at an estimated cost of 150 million euros near the town of Sakhir.
The Gulf emirate's crown prince, Sheikh Hamed Al-Khalifa, was given the green light to go ahead with his ambitious plans to bring Michael Schumacher and company to the desert after the signing of an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone at Monza last month.
"This is a historic moment," said Sheikh Mohammed Al Khalifa, president of the Bahrain circuit. "The track is going to create tourism and generate economic spin-offs."
Work proper is due to start in the next few days, with the last stone placed and the last grid marking painted by mid-March 2004.
The Bahrain leg of the world championship will be replacing one of the current venues with Spa in Belgium most under threat, and currently the only circuit on the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship™ calendar to have a question mark by its name.
A popular circuit with drivers, Spa's future is uncertain owing to the Belgian government's desire to clamp down on tobacco advertising. Bahrain by contrast has no such qualms about cars carrying tobacco advertising.
Given the high summer temperatures Bahrain is looking at slotting into the calendar at the end of the season.
"It can only be at the end of the year because of the heat in the summer," said Peter Hansen, the circuit's Danish executive director.
Famed track architect Herman Tilke has designed the venue, which will have three circuits, a drag track and a main grandstand capable of holding 16,000 spectators.
The 5.475-kilometre (3.30-mile) circuit will have an estimated lap time for a Formula One car of 1 minute 35 seconds, and an average speed of 196 kilometres per hour (122.5 miles per hour).
The track is to be sited 30km from the Bahrain capital and resembles the circuit of Sepang in Malaysia.
SOURCE: AFP
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/10/s10812.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
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It says "main grandstand" likely the one on the start/finish straight. Think of the one at Malaysia. With other supplementary granstands scattered around the course.
Cheers, BT
Cheers, BT
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Originally posted by trench
It says "main grandstand" likely the one on the start/finish straight. Think of the one at Malaysia. With other supplementary granstands scattered around the course.
Cheers, BT
It says "main grandstand" likely the one on the start/finish straight. Think of the one at Malaysia. With other supplementary granstands scattered around the course.
Cheers, BT
the total capacity will be maximised to 100,000 seats. This circuit is a work of art and i gotta tell ya, its gonna be the most accessable race to all F1 enthusiaste in the region.
their will be daily shuttle services transporting spectators from saudi, UAE and qatar back and forth during this event!
We will be ready come april 4th and we will show the world what hosting a major event in asia is all about!
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Bahrain
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
Originally posted by trench
It says "main grandstand" likely the one on the start/finish straight. Think of the one at Malaysia. With other supplementary granstands scattered around the course.
Cheers, BT
It says "main grandstand" likely the one on the start/finish straight. Think of the one at Malaysia. With other supplementary granstands scattered around the course.
Cheers, BT
the total capacity will be maximised to 100,000 seats. This circuit is a work of art and i gotta tell ya, its gonna be the most accessable race to all F1 enthusiaste in the region.
their will be daily shuttle services transporting spectators from saudi, UAE and qatar back and forth during this event!
We will be ready come april 4th and we will show the world what hosting a major event in asia is all about!
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: The Magic City
C63
Excellent, that should be a very interesting place to have a race, it's about time they put a circuit in the Middle East. Even with it being in the cooler months, I wonder how the temperature will affect the cars.
