BAHRAIN, 12 October 2004 — Top officials from the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) underlined the country’s position as the center of motor sport in the Middle East and at the same time welcomed the opening of new circuits in the Gulf as tickets for the second Gulf Air Grand Prix to be held in Bahrain April 1-3 next year went on sale on Sunday.
Officials of Gulf Air, event sponsor for the second time, said that the event had also played an important role in helping the company re-establish itself as an international carrier.
The circuit officials also revealed that they would host the GT Festival on Nov. 25-26, and the Formula 3 SuperPrix on Dec. 9-10 this year.
BIC chairman and president of the General Organization for Youth and Sport (GOYS), Sheikh Fawaz ibn Muhammad Al Khalifa, told a press conference that the opening of new circuits in Dubai and Qatar was a sign of growing fans for F-1 sport in the region.
“We do not see them as competitors,” he said. “They complement our efforts and the region does not have a lot of motor sport events and having them will help increase the number of such events”.
Fawaz added that these circuits would help develop the skills of local and regional athletes to prepare them to compete on regional and international levels. Fawaz, downplayed fears that the F-1 sport was facing crisis and that the circuit would not be able to fill the seats.
“Every year there is a rumor about the sport facing a hard season and this season is no different,” he said.
In attendance during the press conference were BIC general manager, Martin Whitaker, and Gulf Air president and chief executive, James Hogan.
Whitaker explained that one of the hurdles the BIC faced with ticket sales was the fact that the majority of the people in the region are soccer fans. So, to promote the sport in the region we sell tickets on the counter instead of purchasing in advance.
Whitaker said that the circuit made Bahrain part of an exclusive club that represents the interests of the pinnacle of the sport — the FIA Formula One World Championship and placed it on the international sporting map.
Whitaker predicted that hosting the event would continue to positively impact the Bahraini economy by encouraging inward investment and tourism.
Tickets for the F-1 events can be purchased online, through the BIC hotline, and the BIC sales counters in Bahrain and in the Eastern Province. International Sales counters are expected to be open in various parts of Europe and Asia in coming months.
