About Bahrain
The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 Series, and the annual 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. 24 Hour endurance races are also hosted at BIC. The circuit has a FIA Grade 1 license.
Located in the heart of the Sakhir desert, the track is known for its massive run-off areas which prevent sand from blowing onto the circuit. The abrasive surface leads to high tire degradation, making strategy a key component of races here. In 2014, the race transitioned to a night format, with a state-of-the-art floodlighting system illuminating the track.
The layout features long straights and tight corners, rewarding good traction and braking stability. Turn 10 is notoriously difficult due to a downhill braking zone where front-left tire locking is common. The circuit offers multiple layouts, including the "Outer Loop" used for the dramatic Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020.
The circuit is owned by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the current hosting agreement with Formula One Management runs until 2036 following a discreet 15-year renewal signed in December 2021. Hermann Tilke's original design retained six distinct layouts stitched together on the same site, allowing the same asphalt to serve GT racing, drag events, endurance sports cars and F1 without significant reconfiguration. During construction between 2002 and 2004, an estimated 1.8 million cubic metres of desert sand were compacted and then coated with a mist of environmentally certified adhesive polymer developed by Belgian firm Sika to bind the top 30 centimetres of ground and stop dust ingress into the pit lane ventilation shafts.