With 100,000 spectators visited the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) during the F1 Grand Prix 2010, BIC and Gulf Air, the official carrier for Bahrain’s F1 Grand Prix, on Tuesday announced the official countdown for F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2011. The much anticipated racing event takes place 69 days from today between March 11 and 13. It is set to be the first of a record 20 rounds in the 2011 FIA F1 World Championship.
The countdown launch took place at a news conference held at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, where Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of the circuit, and Samer Majali, Chief Executive at Gulf Air, gave a briefing on this upcoming global sporting event set to take place in a spectacular way.
During the press conference the salient features of the various events that will be taking place before and during the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, were announced as well as the official promotional slogan of “Fuel your passion“ that will be used leading up to the race.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) awarded the track and the Kingdom this wonderful honour, following the unparalleled success of the previous seven Grand Prix hosted by Bahrain since 2004.
Shaikh Salman revealed the campaign slogan of “Fuel your passion“, which will be used promoting the event in Bahrain and elsewhere. Shaikh Salman added that this year the circuit is working extra hard to build on the success of the event from its past seven editions.
Shaikh Salman said that BIC in specific and the Kingdom of Bahrain in general, must be proud of the many distinctions they have received for the near-perfect organisation of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix each year.
Shaikh Salman expressed his delight with such a great number of fans attending, and hoped to attract a similar amount this year, with another highly competitive championship set to flag off in the kingdom, making Bahrain the centre of attraction across the globe.
Such honours include the FIA naming the Kingdom’s event as the Best Organised Race in 2004, as well as a prestigious international advertising award for the sprawling ad donned on the Almoayyed Tower skyscraper in 2006.
In addition, Bahrain International Circuit was named a Centre of Excellence by the FIA Institute in 2007 for achieving the highest standards of safety on and off the race track, making it the first circuit in the world to ever been given such an accolade.
As the level of interest amongst the general public has grown in the previous years, the number of fans attending the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has also risen, and in 2010, a record 100,000 spectators attended the event over its three days.
“It is another great moment for both Gulf Air and BIC as we jointly announce the arrival of the annual global spectacle – the 2011 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Gulf Air and BIC share the same spirit and synergy as we both are in the same field with only difference being yours is the fastest on ground while ours really flies,” said Samer Majali Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer.
“That said, Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the great annual event since its first race in 2004 and over the years, we have worked together to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain as a prominent motor sports destination in the Middle East.”
“The international sporting event at BIC’s world class racing track is an ideal platform for the world to see not just the Formula 1 race but what more this beautiful island nation offers tourism, hospitality and business. As the national carrier of the Kingdom we are proud of our partnership with BIC in staging this event successfully every year and further raising the nation’s profile in the international sporting arena and beyond,” Majali added.