BIC Kart track now open
13 April, 2011 – Sakhir, Bahrain: Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), the home of motorsport in the Middle East, has opened its doors to a new state-of-the-art karting facility as a soft launch towards an official opening.
The Bahrain International Karting Circuit boasts the only karting circuit in the Middle East which has been designed to the highest of international technical specifications and standards.
The latest addition to the BIC is a circuit which consists of eight different karting configurations and is 1414-metres at its longest. The circuit features 14 turns each of a different level of difficulty and is 10 metres in width throughout. The karting facility is now also equipped to also host two races on different configurations of the circuit at the same time.
Zayed Rashed Al Zayani, Chairman of the BIC Board, said, “As Bahrain International Circuit is the only circuit to have been awarded the Centre of Excellence Award in the world from the FIA, it was very important that we continue working towards maintaining our standards, which are recognized globally, in karting as well as other areas. This is why we have invested in the best of quality and standards to produce an exciting track with great facilities which will undoubtedly attract the best drivers regionally and internationally.”
Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the CIK, said: “We are proud of the strides made in motorsports in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the wider region. The latest addition of the Bahrain International Karting Circuit, which was designed to the highest of specifications, will add great value to motorsport in the region.”
new floodlit track is a great asset
He highlighted: “Karting plays a very pivotal role in motorsports and is a backbone for any driver’s racing career. The opening of an internationally-acclaimed karting circuit in Bahrain will provide a unique opportunity to regional talent looking to develop a career in motor racing as well as offer them the right spring board to accelerate their career into racing in international events such as the Formula One.”
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer at the BIC, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the soft lunch of this professional karting facility, at our very own Bahrain International Circuit. The new track has been designed to international standards and provides the Kingdom of Bahrain with a superb facility which can potentially host some of the top international karting races.”
He added: “We are also proud to announce that this track is also the only circuit in the world which has been designed and equipped to host a night race.”
Shaikh Salman said: “The karting facility’s specifications were designed in such a way to provide drivers with the greatest competitive elements possible. The tracks have been built with a 10-metre width to encourage overtaking and add greater excitement on and off the track. In addition, the eight various configurations of the circuit layout will enable us to host two races simultaneously.”
Shaikh Salman also added that he looked forward to seeing increased participation in the upcoming events as well as the karting facility and hoped to see Bahrain’s future racing champions take their first steps in the motorsport world on this very track. Karting has been known to have played a pivotal role in many Formula One legends’ racing careers including both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
The Bahrain International Karting Circuit is open every day of the week from 10am to 10 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 2pm – 10 pm on Sunday and Monday. Tickets start at 10 dinars for adults and children for 15 minutes on the track.
For more information, visit www.bahrain-karting.com or contact the circuit on 1745 1745 and for bookings contact 1745 1788 or email the circuit on karting@bic.com.bh.
