BIC lines up spectacular four-day programme for F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020

• First night race of F1 season set for weekend of March 19 to 22 in Sakhir
• Grammy-award winning DJ and producer Afrojack announced as first artist in stellar concert line-up
• 2020 race launched with spectacular 7D Hologram show
• F3 to make Bahrain GP support series debut with F2 and Porsche Challenge also taking part
• Tickets selling fast with up to 15% off in Early Bird offer, which ends this month
• BIC invites public to enjoy 7D Hologram show at The Avenues!

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) announced today an incredible line-up of attractions both on and off the track at the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020, taking place March 19 to 22 in Sakhir.

The four-day spectacle is the biggest and most sought-after event in the region each year, and in signature BIC style, “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” continues the tradition of putting together the very best package for fans attending the season’s first night race.

The launch of the 16th edition of the Bahrain Grand Prix was marked with the premiere of a specially made 7D hologram show; a spectacular live experience never seen before in the Middle East. The 7D experience will be open to the public all this weekend (January 23 to 25, from 5pm) next to Gate 3 of The Avenues Mall.

Speaking at a press conference held at The Avenues Mall, BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa and Gulf Air Deputy Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed Al Alawi announced some of the major details of this year’s race. This included the announcement of Grammy award-winning DJ and producer Afrojack as the megastar concert act on the Friday of the race weekend.

BIC’s Chief Executive, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, commented:

“2020 will mark some major milestones, with the 70th anniversary of both F1 and our partners at Gulf Air. We are truly celebrating in style with Afrojack as our major concert act, together with an amazing mix of other entertainment and racing. On the racing side, in addition to F1, we are delighted to be welcoming F3 for the first time, together with the return of F2. With 52 cars taking to the grid in these feeder series, drivers will be pushing the limits to prove themselves and progress to the ultimate level of F1.

“We urge fans across the world to get booking their tickets as soon as possible as seats are already selling fast. We look forward to welcoming everyone to BIC for our nighttime spectacle in March.”

Gulf Air’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Waleed Al Alawi added: “This is an exciting time for Gulf Air and for the Kingdom of Bahrain as a whole as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the airline and Formula 1 as a sport. We are delighted to once again welcome visitors to the Kingdom to attend the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020. There’s so much to look forward to this year and, on behalf of Gulf Air, we are honoured to be longstanding partners with the Bahrain International Circuit and to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Bahrain year after year, further showcasing Bahrain onto the international stage. On behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, I look forward to yet another successful Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.”

Grammy winner Afrojack to take centre stage for Friday concert

Afrojack is the first artist to be announced for the highly anticipated Formula 1 weekend. He will be taking to the stage on Friday night.

Named one of the top ten DJs in the world by DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll of 2019 (marking his ninth consecutive year of appearing in the Top 12), Afrojack is one of the most popular dance music acts of today and a sought-after producer. Throughout the years, he has worked with everyone from Pitbull to Sting and Beyoncé, won a Grammy for his and David Guetta’s remix of Madonna’s ‘Revolver’, and released an array of diverse hits. This year, after releasing multiple collaborations, Afrojack continues to follow suit, and dominate dance floors across the globe.

Since making his breakthrough with the multi-platinum-selling single ‘Take Over Control’ in 2010, the Dutch-born genre-bending musician has lent his production skills to tracks including David Guetta’s number one smash ‘Titanium (feat. Sia)’ and co-created major hits for such artists as Beyoncé, Pitbull, and will.i.am.

In the last four years Afrojack was named one of the 50 Most Important People in EDM by Rolling Stone and placed on the Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ list, also receiving a stamp in his likeness in the Netherlands and becoming the second DJ ever to cement his hands into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

All ticket-holders to the Bahrain Grand Prix will be able to attend his concert at no extra cost.

Other artists performing on Formula 1 weekend will be announced by BIC soon.

BIC welcomes F3 for the first time as part of GP weekend’s support programme

In addition to Formula 1, there will be plenty of other racing action in the Bahrain Grand Prix with three highly competitive support series: the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship which will appear for the first time and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East.

Formula 2 and Formula 3 will be holding their season-opening rounds in Bahrain in support of Formula 1. Both series are considered amongst the leading stepping stones to the top flight, giving Bahrain’s race fans an exciting look at many of the sport’s future stars.

Meanwhile, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East will be holding the final round of its 2019/2020 season during Formula 1 weekend.

The series’ newest champion will be crowned in front of an international audience.
Plenty of fun and exciting entertainment awaits whole family at Grand Prix

For the second year in a row, BIC will be open to the public from Thursday. Fans will be able to enjoy the vending area, take part in a walk down the pit lane and there will be plenty of shows and entertainment for all the family.

This year, some of the biggest attractions include the 42-metre high Ferris Wheel and the carousel-like Ghost Rider speed ride, both of which are sure to have fans lining up to enjoy the thrills.

Amongst the other attractions at BIC over the race weekend are carnival games, kids’ play areas, stage acts and roaming acts such as renowned street performer Abraham Thill, a life-sized Toy Brigade, a Hot Air Balloons travelling parade, Funky Style Band from Italy, Jam Batucada musical show from Spain, long-time favourites at BIC events Dr. Bubbles and Pop the Balloonman, and so much more.

Tickets now available with up to 15% under Early Bird scheme

Tickets to this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix have already been selling fast and they are currently still available with up to 15% off under BIC’s Early Bird promotion. This offer is available for a limited period only and it is the last chance for fans to get Grand Prix tickets at reduced prices.

Tickets can be bought online at BIC’s official website www.bahraingp.com, by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000, or at BIC’s City Centre Bahrain stand located on the ground floor near gate number three in the West Court.

The 15% price reduction covers four-day tickets on seating along BIC’s Main Grandstand. A Main Grandstand seat now costs BD127.5 instead of its original price of BD150. Aside from this, there are also 10% discounts on four-day tickets to the Batelco Grandstand, Turn One Grandstand, University Grandstands and Victory Grandstands.

A Batelco Grandstand ticket for all four days now costs BD108, down from its original price of BD120. There are also Batelco Grandstand tickets for only Saturday and Sunday, priced at BD90 apiece, down from the original cost of BD100; and also for Friday-only tickets at BD54 each, reduced from BD60.

Furthermore, a four-day ticket to the Turn One Grandstand now costs BD90, reduced from its original price of BD100; whereas University and Victory Grandstand tickets costs BD54 apiece, down from their original price of BD60.

It is worth noting that tickets to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix are among the most affordable on the season calendar. BIC has also covered the Value Added Tax (VAT) on all event tickets, saving fans from any additional expense to attend the biggest sporting and social occasion of the year.