| Bahrain International Circuit | |
| Location: | Sakhir, Bahrain |
| Fiagrade: | 1 (5 layouts) |
| Construction Cost: | 56.2 million Dinars ($150 million) |
| Architect: | Hermann Tilke |
| Events: | Current: Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix (2004–2010, 2012–present) FIA WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain (2012–2017, 2019–present) Former: Gulf 12 Hours (2021) V8 Supercars Desert 400 (2006–2008, 2010) FIA GT (2005) GP2 Asia (2008–2010) |
| Capacity: | 70,000 |
| Layout1: | Grand Prix Circuit (2005–present) |
| Length Km: | 5.412 |
| Length Mi: | 3.363 |
| Turns: | 15 |
| Record Time: | 1:31.447 |
| Record Driver: |  Pedro de la Rosa |
| Record Car: | McLaren MP4-20 |
| Record Year: | 2005 |
| Record Class: | F1 |
| Layout2: | Outer Circuit (2005–present) |
| Length Km2: | 3.543 |
| Length Mi2: | 2.202 |
| Turns2: | 11 |
| Record Time2: | 0:55.404 |
| Record Driver2: |  George Russell |
| Record Car2: | Mercedes W11 |
| Record Year2: | 2020 |
| Record Class2: | F1 |
| Layout3: | Endurance Circuit (2005–present) |
| Length Km3: | 6.299 |
| Length Mi3: | 3.914 |
| Turns3: | 23 |
| Record Time3: | 1:58.287 |
| Record Driver3: | Fernando Alonso |
| Record Team3: | Ferrari F10 |
| Record Year3: | 2010 |
| Record Class3: | F1 |
| Layout4: | Paddock Circuit (2004–present) |
| Length Km4: | 3.823 |
| Length Mi4: | 2.375 |
| Turns4: | 10 |
| Record Time4: | 1:24.9102 |
| Record Driver4: |  Jason Bright |
| Record Car4: | Ford BA Falcon |
| Record Year4: | 2006 |
| Record Class4: | V8 Supercars |
| Layout5: | Oasis / Inner Circuit (2004–present) |
| Length Km5: | 2.550 |
| Length Mi5: | 1.584 |
| Turns5: | 8 |
| Record Time5: | 1:03.819 |
| Record Driver5: | Bashar Mardini |
| Record Car5: | Porsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup |
| Record Year5: | 2017 |
| Record Class5: | PCC |
| Layout6: | Original Grand Prix Circuit (2004) |
| Length Km6: | 5.417 |
| Length Mi6: | 3.366 |
| Turns6: | 15 |
| Record Time6: | 1:30.252 |
| Record Driver6: | Michael Schumacher |
| Record Car6: | Ferrari F2004 |
| Record Year6: | 2004 |
| Record Class6: | F1 |
The Bahrain International Circuit (Arabic: حلبة البحرين الدولية|Ḥalba al-Baḥrayn ad-Dawliyya) is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2), and the annual Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Beginning in 2006, Australian V8 Supercars raced at the BIC, with the event known as the Desert 400. However, the V8 Supercars did not return for the 2011 V8 Supercar season. 24 Hour endurance races are also hosted at BIC.[1] The circuit has a FIA Grade 1 license.[2] The circuit also has multiple layouts.
The construction of the Bahrain circuit was a national objective for Bahrain, initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The Crown Prince is the Honorary President of the Bahrain Motor Federation. TRL was asked to build the circuit, headed by Patrick Brogan.
Race organizers were worried that the circuit would not be complete in time for the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix and attempted to cancel the event; however, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone refused this request. In the end, the circuit was not quite fully complete, but was good enough for the grand prix to go ahead.[3]
After the 2004 race and ahead of the 2005 race the track was realigned at turn four, decreasing the circuit's overall length by 5 metres in total.
In the circuit became the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award, given for excellent safety, race marshal, and medical facilities, and for the high standards of technology required to maintain these.[4]
At the 2009 Grand Prix, BIC announced a collaboration with to develop land next to the circuit. is part of the Mumtalakat group of companies. will dedicate more than 1 million square meters of business, entertainment and educational space with a value in excess of US$2bn (BHD 850million), making it one of the largest investment projects to take place in Bahrain in the past five years.[5]
In 2011 the circuit was scheduled to be the first GP of the season. However, due to civil unrest in the country the race had to be cancelled in March 2011. On 4 June the FIA announced that the race would be scheduled for 30 October, the original slot for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, which would be shifted to a season-closing date on 11 December.[6] However, two days later following concerns from teams and other officials, the race organizers officially cancelled the race, choosing to focus their attention on the 2012 running. The 2012 Formula One calendar had the race scheduled for 22 April, the fourth of the season. During pre-season testing for the 2024 Formula 1 season, the second morning session was halted by a red flag and later cancelled as a drain cover in the approach to turn 10 of the circuit had been dislodged by Charles Leclerc's SF-24.
The circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the same architect who designed the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The main contractor for the project was Cebarco-WCT.[7] The circuit cost approximately 56.2 million Bahraini Dinars[8] (US$150 million) to construct.[9] It has six separate tracks, including a test oval and a drag strip.[9]
The circuit posed a unique problem. Positioned in the middle of a desert, there were worries that sand would blow onto the circuit and disrupt the race. However, organizers were able to keep the sand off the track by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track.[10]
The surface of the track is made of graywacke aggregate, shipped to Bahrain from Bayston Hill quarry in Shropshire, England. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula 1 drivers for the high level of grip it offers. The same aggregate material is used at the Yas Marina Circuit, venue of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.[11]
Shortly after the Formula One February 2014 testing, the first corner of the track was renamed after seven-time champion German driver Michael Schumacher in honour of his achievements and also in support after he suffered an almost fatal skiing accident late December 2013.[12]
| Track | Distance | Grade[13] |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix track | 1 | |
| Oasis / Inner track | 1 | |
| Outer track | 1 | |
| Paddock Circuit | 1 | |
| Drag Strip | n/a | |
| Oval track | n/a | |
| Endurance Circuit | 1 | |
See main article: Bahrain Grand Prix and Sakhir Grand Prix. The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on 4 April 2004, making history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage the race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix (the UAE would host a Grand Prix from 2009).
The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, apart from the 2006 season, when Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games. In, Bahrain was moved to the fourth race. For the season Bahrain was again the pre-season testing and season opener and Formula One cars drove the full 6.299km (03.914miles) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. For 2011 however F1 was set to return to racing on the original layout used between 2004 and 2009.[14] The race was postponed and finally cancelled due to protests in the country but F1 returned to the track for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix. 2014 saw the track host its first ever Grand Prix under lights, as the race was scheduled as a night race to celebrate the tenth year of Formula 1 at the circuit. Subsequent editions of the race have also been held at night. In 2020 the circuit hosted two Grands Prix, the Bahrain and Sakhir Grands Prix, after the calendar was revised following the COVID-19 pandemic with the latter using the Outer Circuit layout.[15]
The Bahrain International Circuit hosts a number of high-profile series, including the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the FIA Formula 2 Championship, FIA Formula 3 Championship, and Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East.
In the past the circuit has hosted the FIA GT Championship, Speedcar Series, Australian V8 Supercars, GP2 Asia Series, and a one-off Bahrain Superprix involving Formula Three cars, following on from the collapsed Korea Super Prix. The first ever Formula BMW World Final took place in Bahrain.
As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Bahrain International Circuit are listed as:[16] [17]
| Category | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit: 5.412 km (2005–present) | |||||
| 1:31.447[18] | 3 April 2005 | ||||
| 1:41.511[19] | 19 November 2016 | ||||
| 1:43.166 | 20 November 2015 | ||||
| 1:43.604 | 23 January 2009 | ||||
| 1:43.848 | 19 March 2022 | ||||
| 1:48.216[20] | 18 November 2017 | ||||
| 1:48.228 | 21 November 2015 | ||||
| 1:48.579[21] | 14 December 2019 | ||||
| 1:48.926[22] | 30 October 2021 | ||||
| Dino Beganovic | 1:50.261[23] | 2 March 2024 | |||
| 1:51.016[24] | 4 November 2023 | ||||
| 1:56.478[25] | 25 November 2005 | ||||
| 1:56.942 | 14 December 2019 | ||||
| 2:00.349[26] | 13 December 2019 | ||||
| 2:00.675 | 9 January 2021 | ||||
| 2:01.631[27] | 4 March 2023 | ||||
| 2:01.821 | 25 November 2005 | ||||
| 2:03.716[28] | 17 February 2019 | ||||
| 2:05.437[29] | 15 December 2023 | ||||
| 2:06.825[30] | 23 January 2009 | ||||
| 2:06.9097[31] | 27 February 2010 | ||||
| 2:09.405[32] | 3 April 2005 | ||||
| 2:11.155[33] | 11 November 2022 | ||||
| GT4 | 2:11.675[34] | 19 March 2022 | |||
| Outer Circuit: 3.543 km (2005–present) | |||||
| 0:55.404 | 6 December 2020 | ||||
| 1:04.087 | 5 December 2020 | ||||
| Endurance Circuit: 6.299 km (2005–present) | |||||
| 1:58.287 | 14 March 2010 | ||||
| 2:09.787[35] | 13 March 2010 | ||||
| 2:32.658[36] | 13 March 2010 | ||||
| Paddock Circuit: 3.823 km (2004–present) | |||||
| 1:24.9102[37] | 24 November 2006 | ||||
| 1:26.0140[38] | 8 November 2008 | ||||
| 1:26.997[39] | 16 December 2005 | ||||
| Oasis Circuit: 2.550 km (2004–present) | |||||
| 1:03.819[40] | 10 March 2017 | ||||
| 1:09.824[41] | 11 March 2017 | ||||
| Grand Prix Circuit: 5.417 km (2004) | |||||
| 1:30.252 | 4 April 2004 | ||||
| 1:54.048[42] | 10 December 2004 | ||||
| 2:10.784[43] | 3 April 2004 | ||||