Formula 1 Bahrain Race Time
The paddock at night. Formula One World Championship, Rd 3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Practice Day, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain, Friday 13 April 2007. © Sutton Motorsport Images
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM07. Formula One Testing, Day One, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain, Tuesday 8 April 2014.
Gulf Air Stewardess. Formula One World Championship, Rd 3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain, Sunday 15 April 2007. © Sutton Motorsport Images BEST IMAGE
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB10 leads Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari F14 T and Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams FW36. Formula One World Championship, Rd3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday 6 April 2014.
Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari F2004 crosses the line to win. Formula One World Championship, Rd3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race Day, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain, 4 April 2004.
The 2004 Grand Prix of Bahrain marked the first ever round of the FIA Formula One World Championship to be held in the Middle East and the official culmination of a multi-million dollar project started back in September 2002 when the Kingdom of Bahrain signed a long-term deal to host the event.
Located at Sakhir, 30 km south-west of the island's capital, Manama, the Hermann Tilke designed circuit contains no less than five track layouts within one complex. Construction began in November 2002 and in the months prior to its March 2004 completion, work was going on around the clock. Over 12, 000 tonnes of stone were used in the build, a third of it Welsh granite, chosen for the track surface due to its excellent adhesive qualities.
The original 5.412 km Grand Prix circuit was designed with the spectator in mind, with 50, 000 grandstand seats, all providing excellent views. Those spectators (a total of 100, 000 over a race weekend) get to see the cars heading into the external desert area, before coming back into the oasis-styled infield. Up to 500 journalists can also witness the action from the venue's purpose-built media centre.
