BIC, Sakhir – The BIC 2,000cc Challenge will be reaching fever pitch this weekend as the sixth and penultimate round of the 2011/2012 season takes place as part of Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) National Racing Festival in Sakhir.

 

With only four races remaining on the championship calendar, the campaign is beginning to wind down; the title battle, however, is only now heating up.

 

Current pace-setter Stephen Kellogg will be looking to strengthen his grip on the Challenge’s ultimate prize. Kellogg already has one eye on the title as he enjoys a sizeable 46-point lead over the rest of the field.

 

On Friday and Saturday (February 10 and 11), Kellogg will be hoping to add to his 231-point total and inch closer to his championship aspirations. But Tim Birkin, who is his closest challenger with 185 points, along with other top talents such as Abdulrahman Ghuloom, Salah Salahuddin and defending champion Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, are all determined to postpone a Kellogg coronation.

 

“The championship is by no means over,” admitted Kellogg, who competes in a Honda CIVIC.

 

“With the way the point system is structured, my big lead can be cut significantly if I have issues with my car over any of the last few races. This is why my team and I are totally focused on reliability; my key to securing the title is to finish consistently in the top three over the remainder of the year.

 

“Of course, our goal is always to win; we never want to finish a race second, and I’ll be pushing as hard as I’ll need to. Hopefully in the end it will be enough for the title.”

 

Kellogg is expecting an even tougher fight this National Racing Festival than in rounds past. Alongside Birkin, Ghuloom, Salahuddin and Shaikh Hamad, he will have his hands full as the highly competitive 2,000cc grid charges down BIC’s 2.550-kilometre Inner Track with wins, points and pride on the line.

 

“It’s going to be very interesting as I’m expecting some of the other top competitors to race with new engines in their cars,” Kellogg added. “Everyone’s looking to improve constantly so it’s going to be difficult to stay on top. But my team and I have gotten everything prepared on our end, and we’re ready to race this round.”

 

Ghuloom, a veteran Bahraini racer who also drives a Honda CIVC in the championship, commented: “I think there’s going to be a good fight for the top positions this coming round. Kellogg and Shaikh Hamad will surely be vying for first place, and I expect Birkin, Salahuddin and myself to challenge for the spots behind them.

 

“But as we all know, anything can happen in racing and it’s absolutely going to be exciting to see how it all plays out.

 

“Kellogg has been the strongest so far this season and he has a very good car that he can rely on. I just hope to challenge him the best I can, and I’m sure everyone else is looking to do the same.”

 

The upcoming round in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge is being held as part of the much-anticipated National Racing Festival. Also taking place will be round four of the WGA Supercars Championship Middle East, and round five of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship.

 

Practice (10am) and qualifying (1.28pm) in the 2,000cc Challenge will be held on Friday (February 10). The meeting’s two races are then scheduled to take place on Saturday (February 11), with race one scheduled for 10.43am in the morning, to be followed by race two in the afternoon flagging off at 2.23pm.

 

Following this weekend’s sixth round, the season finale is scheduled to be held between April 26 and 28 in support of Bahrain International Circuit’s stand-alone GP2 Series weekend.

 

All are welcome to attend the National Racing Festival. To complement the racing, there will be plenty of off-the-track entertainment for the entire family. Children will be able to enjoy many fun activities such as game stalls, bouncy castles and carnival rides; while plenty of food and beverage stands will also be on hand throughout the day.

 

Tickets for the festival cost BD5 for all days for seats at the Batelco Grandstand. Children aged 16 years old and below will be able to enter for BD2.5. For seating along the Start Line Grandstand, tickets cost BD7 for adults and BD3.5 for kids.

 

Ticketholders can watch all the heated action beginning with the BIC 2,000cc Challenge and WGA Supercars by day, and ending with the drag racing at night.

 

For more information on the National Racing Festival or other activities at Bahrain International Circuit, call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000 or visit its official website, www.bahraingp.com.