motor sports

A cutting edge facility located where once there was only desert, Sakhir hosted the Middle East's inaugural Grand Prix in 2004. The predominantly medium-speed corners aren't particularly taxing, but local conditions conjure other challenges. Drivers have to contend with fierce ambient heat and the circuit can be quite slippery. Its surface is frequently sandblasted by strong winds that whip across the adjacent terrain as cars are blasted with air infused with damaging sand particles. One of the unique destinations on the calendar, Bahrain's imposing desert backdrop significantly influences track conditions and car set-up over the weekend. Grip levels are another casualty of the sand and can be considerably reduced when it settles on the track making all but the racing line dangerously slippery. The track, built to house 50,000 spectators, is a complex mix of 15 slow and medium speed corners connected by three high speed straights, the fastest of which will see the cars peak at 320kph at the end of the pit straight. The track isn't a classic in the Spa-Francorchamps sense, but its mix of medium and slow-speed corners are usually a good indicator of a car's competitiveness. After an indifferent response to the 6.299km "endurance" layout in 2010, the race will be run on the original 15-corner 5.412km circuit. There are three obvious overtaking places and there's plenty of asphalt run-off, so expect fireworks from the outset.