WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain

FIA World Endurance Championship

The WEC has established itself as one of the premier championships under the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the leading global series for endurance racing. It attracts countless stars in motorsport, and it continues to grow in popularity every year, with races taking place in eight countries across four continents.

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F1 drivers, team and race officials begin arriving in Bahrain ahead of pre-season tests this week at BIC

F1 drivers, team and race officials begin arriving in Bahrain ahead of pre-season tests this week at BIC

Formula 1’s superstar drivers and team members have begun arriving in the Kingdom of Bahrain ahead of the F1 Aramco Pre-Season Testing 2022, taking place Thursday to Saturday (10 to 12 March) at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

The stage is set for F1’s final on-track running in preparation for the start of the 2022 FIA F1 World Championship. The season kicks off with the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from 18 to 20 March at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.

First to arrive from motorsport’s biggest names was Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri. Large groups of F1 team personnel along with officials from F1 and the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA) have also started to reach the Kingdom.

They were received upon touching down at Bahrain International Airport by BIC’s Meet and Greet Team, who assisted the Kingdom’s guests on their arrival formalities and their transportation to their respective hotels.

Meanwhile, preparations at BIC have ramped up ahead of the start of on-track action on Thursday. Huge crates of the F1 teams’ cars and equipment have been off-loaded at the Sakhir race track and the garages are already being set up along the F1 Pit Lane.

This week’s tests are scheduled to begin at 10am each day and continue until 2pm before heading for an hour-long break. Running will resume at 3pm and conclude at 7pm over the three days of testing.

BIC will be opening its doors to the public on the last two days of the tests on 11 and 12 March. All those who had purchased their tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix 2022 before 1 March have free access to the tests.

For those without F1 tickets bought before 1 March, tickets to pre-season testing are available to purchase online at bahraingp.com. They are priced at BD5 per day for adults and BD2.5 for children.

The tests will be the first opportunity for F1 fans around the world to witness in person the new generation of F1 cars on track. All 10 F1 teams and their star drivers of 2022 will be taking part in the sessions.

F1’s famous Paddock Club hospitality, with its exceptional cuisine and the best view in the house, is also available for the last two days of testing. Those interested should e-mail corporate@bic.com.bh or visit the BIC website for more details. Paddock Club pass holders will also have the chance to take part in a Pit Lane Walk and Truck Tour on the two open days.

This week’s F1 tests follow F2 and F3 joint-testing held last week. F2 and F3 will also be opening their respective seasons in the Kingdom in support of F1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.

This year’s sporting and entertainment extravaganza is set to be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for motorsport, as it ushers in “A New Era” in F1 following the biggest shake-up in rules and regulations in the top flight.

As the host of pre-season testing and the opening round of the season, Bahrain’s fans are in the enviable position of being the first in the world to experience racing’s top championship like never before seen.

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