BIC, Sakhir – The wait is over. One of the most highly anticipated motor racing events of the year is here.
The stage is set for a feast of racing in the 2015 FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain.
The weekend’s events get underway Thursday,November 19 at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir, and it promises to be an occasion to remember.
Headlining the meeting is the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), which marks the eighth and final round of its 2015 season in the desert. Aside from the WEC, four highly popular series will be held in support. These include the GP2 Series, the GP3 Series, the BIC-bred Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and the India-based MRF Challenge.
Thursday’s racing will be held behind closed doors but fans will be able to enjoy all the high-octane action on Friday and Saturday.
Things get underway with a pair of free practices in the WEC as well as in each of the supporting championships.
A number of WEC titles are set to be settled in the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain – the most coveted of all being the FIA World Endurance Drivers’ Championship.
Heading into the kingdom’s event, the Porsche trio of Brendon Hartley, Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard lead in first place with 155 points apiece. In second are the three drivers from Audi Team Sport Joest, namely Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler with 143 markers each.
Looking ahead to the racing in Bahrain, Webber, who has raced in Sakhir many times in the past, commented: “We’ve done a lot of work in Bahrain as it’s a test track so we know it pretty well.
“The weather is stable and sunny, which off the back of the wet races in Fuji and Shanghai is a bonus. However, the wind conditions play a major role in Bahrain in terms of your top speed and also your cornering performance. Our approach to the weekend won’t change, as we always want to get the best possible result every time we race.”
Toyota Racing’s Sebastien Buemi and Anthony Davidson captured last year’s Drivers’ title. They are already out of the title fight, but are still hoping to end their campaign on a positive note.
“Bahrain is a track that I know well and I really like,” Buemi, a former resident of Bahrain, said. “Also, I have good memories as we won the drivers’ title there last year so I am looking forward to going back. We know it is going to be a tough weekend and we cannot expect any help from the weather as it is usually dry there. I am interested to see what our car can do on this track.”
Spectacular drift show to wow race-goers before Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain start
Red Bull athlete Abdo Feghali will be returning to the WEC event to perform his drifting skills before the Bahraini audience.
On Saturday, right before the start of the Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain, Feghali will entertain the crowd by drifting on the track while the cars are lined up on the grid.
Fans will be able to meet their favourite WEC drivers on Saturday in an autograph session scheduled right before the big endurance race.
The meet and greet will be held from 12.50pm to 1.20pm, and it will take place in the WEC Pit Lane.
There will also be a Pit Walk going on, from 12.45pm to 1.35pm.
Fans attending the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain will have a chance to win valuable prizes in a fantastic raffle on race day.
To have a chance to win, race-goers must be in their seats along BIC’s Main Grandstand between 2.30pm and 4pm. During this time, the winners of the prizes will be announced and several lucky individuals will be going home with a valuable gift.
Fans are advised to remain in their seats along the Main Grandstand so as not to miss out on their chance to win a prize.
A fantastic array of theatrical shows and fun activities for the whole family has been lined up by BIC to enjoy at the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain.
The street theatre shows feature Men in Coats and Trash Test Dummies. Meanwhile, an interactive area will include a reverse bungee ride and an area to enjoy driving in state-of-the-art GT simulators.
Further, several roaming performers will be entertaining the crowd off the track throughout the weekend. Amongst them are Basketball Man, Mr Banana, Papito, Mr Tartuffo, Sam Goodburn and Esther Fuge and the TNT Show.
Tickets to the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain can be purchased at the gate and at the BIC stand in Bahrain City Centre, online at www.bahraingp.com or by telephone by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000. Tickets cost just BD10 for the entire weekend of action. All those aged 15 years old and below can get in absolutely free.
Thursday Timetable
Time Session Championship
8.50am Practice MRF Challenge
9.35am Practice GP3
10.40am Practice Porsche GT3 Cup
11.30am Practice GP2
12.40pm Qualifying GP3
1.30pm Practice 2 Porsche GT3 Cup
2.20pm Qualifying GP2
3.15pm Practice 1 WEC
5pm Qualifying MRF Challenge
6pm Press Conference WEC
7.30pm Practice 2 WEC
