OCTOBER 19, 2004

Bahrain tries to keep up

With Dubai having stolen all the headlines in recent weeks rival Bahrain is trying to keep up and has announced that it is intending to push up attendance at its Grand Prix next year by 20%.

With Dubai having stolen all the headlines in recent weeks with the first race at the Dubai Autodrome and the announcement of a Formula 1 team in 2006, rival Bahrain is trying to keep up and has announced that it is intending to push up attendance at its Grand Prix next year by 20% from the 42,000 spectators who saw the inaugural race.

Bahrain will host two more racing events this year with a two-day GT Festival planned for the end of November in preparation for the circuit getting an FIA GT date in 2005 and there will then be a Formula 3 Superprix on the weekend of December 9-10. The management at the Bahrain International Circuit hope that these events will raise the profile of the track. The circuit is also planning to expand its facilities with plans for a museum, restaurants, hotels, a kart circuit, a drag strip and an off-road track.