BIC’s National Race Day set for hot competition with packed grids

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is set to host an action-packed National Race Day on Friday and Saturday (March 8 and 9), with its two headlining championships each featuring a highly competitive grid. 

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and the BIC 2,000cc Challenge are both set to be the weekend’s star attractions out on the tarmac. Each series will mark the penultimate rounds of their respective seasons, with their battles set be held along BIC’s 5.412-Kilometre Grand Prix track.

There will be no less than 15 cars lined up for both championships.

In the GT3 Cup, a 17-strong field of international drivers will be showcased, including the local trio of His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa. They will be flying the kingdom’s flag in the meeting’s three races.

Both HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla and Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed are competing in the ProAm category, while Shaikh Jaber will be contesting the Am class.

They will all be going against several of the Challenge’s leading drivers this season, including current championship leader Al Faisal Al Zubair of Oman, Berkay Beslar of Turkey and JB Simmenauer of France. Beslar and Simmenauer are currently second and third on the overall points standings.

Others competing are Khalid Al Wahaibi of Oman, Michael Sauer of Denmark, Tio Ellinas of Cyprus, Max Van Splunteren of the Netherlands, Michael Doppelmayr of Austria, Leon Koelher of Germany, Saul Hack of South Africa, Mohammed Hussain of the UAE and the Swedish trio of Magnus Oehman, Christoffer Bergstroem and Michael Knutzon.

Meanwhile, the BIC 2,000cc Challenge is expected to have a huge 22-car grid, led by defending champion Raed Himmo driving a Honda Civic.

Current points leader Ahmed Bin Khanen (Civic EG4) is also in the mix, as are leading title contenders Tareq Al Tajer (Ford Focus) and Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Civic), who is one of a number of former champions that will be racing.

The rest of the grid includes Mohammed Janahi (Honda CRX), Majed Himmo (Civic), Andreas Buelow (Civic), Wiebke Buelow (Civic), Nasser Al Alawi (Honda S2000), Ali Toblani (Mini Cooper), Ahmed Al Ghatam (Civic), Mohamed Toblani (Mini Cooper), Mohamed Faqihi (Civic), Shaikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (BMW Z3), Khalid Al Saei (Renault Clio), Ramzi Al Qassab (Acura DC5), Martyna Al Qassab (Acura DC5), Abdulla Al Gaoud (Civic), Ahmed Naqi (Honda CRX), Khalid Aloun (BMW E30) and Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Civic).

National Race Day will also see racing in three motorbike categories. They are the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing (BMR) 600, the Bahrain Supersport Championship (BSSP) 125 and the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK). They will be racing along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre
Inner Circuit.

All are welcome to attend this weekend’s events. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. They cost BD2 apiece for adults, while children aged 13 and below can get in for half the price.

Action in the Porsche GT3 Cup will take place over two days. All the other series will be held only on Friday.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 9.30am on Friday and continue into the night until around 10pm. On Saturday, the Porsche GT3 Cup events will begin at 11.30am and continue until after 5pm.