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| Bahrain International Circuit |
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2004 saw the Formula 1 World Championship make camp in the Middle East for the first time since the series began back in 1950, with the state of Bahrain staging the ground-breaking race. The state-of-the-art Sakhir circuit is located just a short drive from the capital city of Manama, in a desert location, reflected in the architecture of the buildings which are a solid interpretation of Bedouin tents of the desert. It is particularly striking at night thanks to the lighting that highlights the architectural features of the grandstand, while canopies strung between palm trees provide “oases” within the paddock area.
The track layout itself has been accused of being rather bland and its desert location and very large run-off areas means it lacks any particular identity. In fact, the sandy surroundings do throw up a technical problem, as it is difficult to keep sand off the track, and the side of the asphalt is actually coated with a substance designed to stop the dust blowing onto the track. If the wind is blowing, then venturing off the racing line is perilous, making overtaking a risky business. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has won three of the five Bahrain Grands Prix held to date: Michael Schumacher stood on the top step of the podium at the inaugural event in 2004 and Felipe Massa has made this event his own, winning the last two events. No winner has ever sprayed champagne at Sakhir as a special non-alcoholic drink, Waard, has been produced for the podium trio, out of respect for Middle Eastern views on alcohol.
For most of its life, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been the third race on the calendar, with the exception of 2006 when it played the role of curtain raiser. This year, it will be the fourth round of the championship, with the teams and all their equipment arriving breathless from Shanghai, as the two events take place on consecutive Sundays.
In 2008, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro scored a one-two finish, with Felipe Massa the winner and Kimi Raikkonen second. It was the Prancing Horse’s century of wins under the presidency of Luca di Montezemolo. Having started from second and fourth on the grid, by lap 2, Felipe and Kimi were first and second and that’s how it stayed to the flag.
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| Circuit Info |
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| General Admission |
| TV Screen |
| Grandstand |
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Location: |
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Sakhir, Bahrain |
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Date: |
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11 - 13 March 2011 |
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Lap distance: |
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5.417 m |
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Laps: |
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57 |
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Race Distance: |
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308.769 km |
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Track Record: |
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1.30.252 M.Schumacher (Ferrari) |
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Hotel Booker
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