The Bahrain International Circuit is gearing up to host the island’s biggest event of the year, the 2017 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, and hosted a press conference last week to unveil its on-and-off-track plans.

The third round of the 2017 season will take place from April 14-16 and be the fourth night race held under the circuit’s bright floodlights.

BIC commercial director Sherif Al Mahdy said: “Following the tremendous success of the Bahrain Grand Prix the past few years, we at BIC are inspired to once again deliver one of the best packages combining motorsport and entertainment on the Formula 1 World Championship.

“We have had an excellent response to our Early Bird discount and tickets continue to sell fast. We therefore encourage race fans to act quickly, in order to secure their spot at Bahrain’s biggest weekend of the year.”

The slogan for this year’s race is ‘See it! Feel it! Live it!’, and for the first time, the race has its own official theme song. Produced by Outlaw Productions and performed by hip hop duo Daffy and Flipperachi, the song is entitled 3eshha Weyana, and it was performed live for the first time at the press conference.

As part of the lead-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, BIC has put together an exciting programme of activities for the public to enjoy one month ahead of the Grand Prix weekend.

This period is called ‘Race Fever’, and it will include a Formula 1 Game Zone, a Desert Drift Night Championship, a Neon Run and a concert by popular Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams.

The Game Zone will be held throughout the duration of the month prior to the race, and this, like all other Race Fever events, will be accessible only by Bahrain Grand Prix ticket holders.

The Desert Drift Night will take place on March 16 and 17, and the Neon Run will be held on March 24.

The Bryan Adams concert will be on March 13, and entry is free to all those with a valid Main Grandstand or Turn One weekend ticket for the race.

On the Friday night of the Grand Prix weekend, superstar DJs Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike will be taking to the stage. In 2016, the duo were ranked the number #1 act in the entire world by DJ Mag, higher than Afrojack, Avicii and Axwell-Ingrosso who have all played in Bahrain in previous years.

The award-winning brotherly duo have become the leading lights in the new wave of international dance music currently taking the world by storm. Their electrifying live combination of DJ sets and crowd-busting MCing has propelled them towards party notoriety, scooping the hotly contested ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ award at the 2013 International Dance Music Awards (IMDAs) and back-to-back ‘Best European DJ’s’ awards in 2014 and 2015.

Meanwhile, the Formula One village will be back in full splendour, with a Dino and Ice Age tent providing fun for the entire family. The exhibit will include a total of 24 Dinosaurs and 10 Ice Age animals, a maze, back drop scenes, an interactive area and a dino photo booth.

Also for the first time, fans will be able to enjoy a haunted house experience at the Grand Prix, filled with zombies, ghosts and other creatures that will give you chills and excitement.

In addition, other entertainment shows will include the Pedal Punk circus, a high dive act and Flight Crew Jump Rope, as well as other shows and roaming performers.

In the Kids Zone, youngsters can enjoy a Playdough City, a Bubbles Show and Workshop, Face Painting, a Balloon Twister, a Drumming Puppet, Magic Show and plenty more.

Main Grandstand tickets are BD150, while a Turn One seat is BD100 for the weekend. The Batelco Grandstand tickets are BD120, while a University and Victory Grandstand ticket is BD60 for the three days.

Tickets can be purchased at the BIC stand in City Centre Bahrain, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on 17450000.