OCTOBER 19, 2004

Bahrain tries to keep up

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.