Bahrain GP: Race preview
2010-03-10 11:48
The season opening race of the 2010 F1 World Championship takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit. Built over a former desert, the track sits 30kms south of the island kingdom’s capital city, Manama.
In 2004 Bahrain became the first Middle Eastern country to host a round of the F1 World Championship. This year will be the second time it has hosted the season-opening Grand Prix with the first being in 2006.
Several changes have been made to the track for 2010. The track has been configured with inner and outer circuits, a new loop, and has 23 turns: 13 right-handers and 10 left-handers.
The additional loop, starting just after the old turn four, brings eight new corners - a fast left leading into a sequence of five bends followed by a quick kink then a hairpin – all with a significant elevation change.
The layout will be a new challenge for the drivers and should add overtaking opportunities. Bahrain's desert location means that there is a threat of sand blowing onto the circuit by which can reduce grip levels.
To help ensure maximum grip, the track surface was laid with a special type of sandstone.
Changes to the circuit since 2009:
• New extended configuration featuring eight additional corners.
• Additional conveyor belting has been fitted in all tyre barriers more than six rows deep.
• The paint from all kerbs has been stripped and re-applied.
Circuit info:
Length of lap: 6.299km
Start line/finish line offset: 0.246km
Total number of race laps: 49
Total race distance: 308.405km
Pitlane speed limits: 60km/h during practice sessions; 100km/h during qualifying and race
Facts and figures: Bahrain Grand Prix
• Seventy thousand cubic metres (70 000m3) of concrete was used during circuit construction.
• Despite rumours, sand around the circuit has never been glued to stop it blowing onto the track.
• In 2007 the circuit was recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the FIA Institute, for its commitment to setting high standards in medical, marshal and race control safety.
• Bahrain's circuit length (6.3km) makes it the second-longest track on the 2010 calendar, after Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps (7km).
• The 2010 the Bahrain GP will feature 49 laps but the race will be the sixth-longest, at 308km from lights to flag.
