India is set to host its first Formula One race in 2010. The growing economic power is looking to build a racing circuit and they would do well to replicate the success of Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). BIC hosts a number of exciting motorsports events and also serves as a venue for corporate, public and private events, thus keeping the cash register clicking and not turning the infrastructure into a white elephant, as happens with mostsports infrastructure in India.

BIC is known as the “Home of Motorsports in the Middle East”. It is, after all, the first and only circuit in the region ever to host an F1 event and, in doing so, the BIC single-handedly put the kingdom, along with the entire Middle East, on the world motorsport map. The success of Bahrain has become a blueprint for future F1 tracks.

The fan base for motorsports in the Middle East is witnessing an upswing with every passing year. The Bahrain Grand Prix has been growing in stature since it joined the motor racing calendar in 2004. With a sellout crowd of 34,000 last year, the GP is having a spiral effect on the Bahraini economy and contributing to the gross domestic product.

‘No doubt those behind the ambitious moves to bring Formula One to India will have watched and learned from the Bahrain experience’


But that is not the only area of influence.

Another significant characteristic of the Bahrain International Circuit is the enormous amount of publicity that it has generated for Bahrain in the western media. The event created international awareness and a realistic insight into Middle Eastern culture which has in turn helped bridge the culture gap and enhanced understanding of the Arab community.

As well as F1 the BIC plays host to a wide range of other motorsports, including the FIA GT, the International Drag Racing Championship and GP2 Championships, the V8 Supercar Championship and the Formula BMW world final, but it shines equally bright as a venue for corporate, public and private events.

“Clients can be entertained in an atmosphere filled with action, thrill and speed with the introduction of Corporate Driving Days,” says BIC general manager Martin Whitaker. “The event includes a variety of events, from stealth rally cars to the Gulf-specs Caterham and the powerful Holden. Many companies opt to host a meeting while using up the half day corporate driving day package to ‘release the stress’ after a hard-earned day."

Whitaker adds, “We are uniquely positioned to offer activities that no other venue in the region can. You can, for example, take on the BIC’s Adventure Drive Arabia, a bespoke off-road automotive and motorsport activity centre, that’s certain to leave a lasting impression.

“Whilst catering for individual customers the new Adventure Drive Arabia off-road centre is also targeted at international and regional organisations seeking a solution for customer incentive and staff motivation programs.”

To round off its corporate entertainment offerings, the BIC boasts impressive hospitality and conference facilities that put it on par with the world’s very best.

“When the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain underwrote the development of the Bahrain International Circuit, it foresaw the circuit to be a catalyst for the future growth of the economy,” says Whitaker.

No doubt those behind the ambitious moves to bring Formula One to India will have watched and learned from the Bahrain experience. And they will again be watching particularly closely barely a month from now when the BIC hosts this year's Bahrain Grand Prix.