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Bahrain International Circuit and national carrier, Gulf Air, have launched the official countdown to the year's most highly anticipated sporting, social and business networking event - the 2010 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
More than 94,000 people attended the 2009 racing weekend and the circuit hopes to attract an even greater number of fans this year, during which the racing world will witness a record 26 cars from 13 Formula One teams lining up on the grid.
The race weekend, which takes place in 59 days time on March 12, 13 & 14 at the award-winning Sakhir track, will be the inaugural race for this year's 60th anniversary celebratory season of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Formula One World Championship.
It will also be the seventh time the kingdom hosts the third most popular sporting event in the world.
The 'Home of Motorsports in the Middle East' was officially opened by His Majesty King Hamad and has brought an ever increasing number of spectators to the kingdom, with this year's special event promising to be the biggest, most exciting Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix to date.
Speaking at the official launch press conference yesterday were Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer of the Bahrain International Circuit, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, chief operating officer of the Bahrain International Circuit, and Samer Majali, chief executive officer of Gulf Air. They jointly launched Bahrain's official campaign promoting the event.
Just as it is for Formula One, 2010 marks the airline's own 60th anniversary celebrations.
To mark the occasion and celebrate the airline's next 60 years, Samer Majali announced a special package for travellers.
Passengers buying Gulf Air tickets online to arrive in Bahrain between March 11-14, from 6am and noon, and wishing to travel to the circuit, would be met at the airport, taken to the track and receive a complimentary gift.
Mr Majali said: "Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix since it made history in April 2004 as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East.
"Since then the airline has worked closely with the Bahrain International Circuit to open the race up to a wider audience and attract as many fans as possible to the kingdom, whilst at the same time involving the local community in one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.
"I am sure that with this year's race being the first in the F1 calendar and seeing the return of racing legend Michael Schumacher, the 2010 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be one of highlights of this year's racing calendar."
As part of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Formula One and Gulf Air, an unprecedented and never-before-seen gathering of Formula One legends, both past and present, will take place.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will bring together some of the greatest heroes and former world champions the sport has seen since its birth in 1950. Among the famous names expected to be at the event are Sir Jack Brabham, Mika Hakkinen, Jody Scheckter, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Keke Rosberg, Niki Lauda, Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Mario Andretti, to name but a few.
Adding to the overall spectacle and celebration of the sport will be many of the iconic cars that have won championships during the 60 years. This will add to the uniqueness of the event in Sakhir.
Bahrain will bring together cars from each decade including some of the classics from the 50s such as Alfa Romeo and Ferrari. More recent winners from the 1960s onwards will be represented by Lotus, Ferrari, Tyrrell, Matra, Brabham and Williams in what promises to be the most spectacular gathering of world championship winning cars ever seen at a grand prix.
Bahrain International Circuit also revealed its official campaign slogan for the upcoming event - Race Number One - signifying not only the fantastic opportunity Bahrain has in opening the 2010 Formula One season, but also acknowledging the elite status Bahrain's race has achieved among the most popular motorsport series in the world.
Mr Whitaker and Shaikh Salman said three international motor racing series will complement Formula One - GP2 Asia Series, the Porsche Mobil1 Super Cup and the Bahrain-based Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship.
There will also be plenty of entertainment for all members of the family in the Formula One Village, with a wide variety of carnival acts, street performers, arts and crafts activities, fun games and much more. Contact 17450000 for ticket details.
