BIC, Sakhir, February 18, 2014– Formula One pre-season testing flags off amidst much anticipation Wednesday (February 19) at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
All 11 Formula One teams will be taking to the track to collect as much data as they can about their 2014 cars as they gear up for the start of this year’s FIA Formula One World Championship.
The teams will have eight days of testing in all at BIC, “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”. These have been divided into two sessions – the first continues until Saturday while the second takes place from February 27 to March 2.
With some of the biggest rule changes in Formula One history being implemented for the new season, in particular the switch to new V6 turbocharged engines, there is much at stake for all those involved in the action in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton arrives in Bahrain
Some of the teams will be looking to continue the good work they had put in during the maiden pre-season tests in Jerez, Spain last month.
Others will be hoping to turn things around and make dramatic improvements to their challengers as the days continue to count the days down to the start of the new season in mid-March. Some of Formula One’s biggest stars will be stepping into their cars Wednesday to begin their teams’ testing programme in Bahrain.
Among them are four-time defending World champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing, and former World champions Fernando Alonso of Ferrari as well as Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
Kevin Magnussen arrives
Others set to join them out on BIC’s 5.412-kilometre track are Romain Grosjean of Lotus, Nico Hulkenberg for Force India, Daniil Kvyat for Toro Rosso, Jules Bianchi for Marussia, Robin Frijns for Caterham and Kevin Magnussen for McLaren.
Magnussen had steered McLaren to the top of the timesheets at the Jerez tests, and will be hoping to once again set the pace for his team.
Williams and Sauber are also testing in Bahrain but they had not yet announced their drivers.
Several of Formula One’s other top stars are also already in Bahrain but are scheduled to be testing on other days. Among them are Williams’ Felipe Massa, and Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson.
BIC has scheduled four open days for fans to see all the testing in person at BIC. The open days are on Friday and Saturday and then again on February 28 and March 1. Tickets to each open test day cost BD5 per person. They can be purchased at the gate or at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.
Fans will be able to watch the testing from BIC’s Main Grandstand, which overlooks the Formula One pit lane, team garages and the circuit’s main straight. Doors will be open to the public from 9am to 5pm.
The 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship kick starts in Australia on March 14-15-16. The Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be the third of 19 races this season, taking place April 4-5-6 in Sakhir.
Tickets for the Grand Prix are now on sale. For more information, visit www.bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.
