Circuit guide to Bahrain
Ready, set - let’s go on a thrilling ride round the Bahrain international circuit and discover where Hertz Team Jota will be vying for pole position. Known for hosting several international motorsport events, it’s also home of the WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain 2023.
Speed ahead to learn the twists and turns of the Bahrain circuit. Seatbelts fastened, we’re off.
Where is Bahrain International Circuit?
As its name suggests, the Bahrain International Circuit is located in Bahrain, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the Persian Gulf. The racetrack can be found 19 miles south-west of the capital Manama.
In the past the country was renowned for its pearl fisheries, considered the best in the world until the 1800s. It’s an accurate embodiment of the main island itself – a pearl that sits in the heart of the Gulf. There are good links to neighbouring countries too, a bridge separates the country from mainland Saudi Arabia. You can also get a boat ride over to Qatar too.
A total of 50 islands make up the country as a whole, some of them are artificially built. The track is around 22 miles from the airport, usually taking around 40 minutes along the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway. There is the main island, where the capital Manama is, and the collection of islands closest to Qatar that make up Hawar Island. Um Al Naasan, the fifth largest island, sits between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Spectators can expect sunshine and heat – and lots of it. The average temperature all year round is a toasty 93 degrees Fahrenheit .
Bahrain international circuit – what you need to know
This racetrack combines long high-speed straights with flowing bends and several slower hairpins. As a result, it demands both bravery and accuracy from drivers as they look to hit perfect braking points, find the best racing line and compete for track position.
Corner by corner
The first right hander comes at the end of the 1100-foot start/finish straight, and requires racers to brake hard from top speed. This is also a common overtaking spot, and right in front of the Grandstand – often providing entertaining duels on the tarmac right in front of spectators’ eyes. Drivers then accelerate through the slight turns 2 and 3 onto the long straight that leads to turn 4. A good exit onto this straight could mean an overtaking opportunity.
Turns 5, 6 and 7 are a fast left-right-left sequence which opens out onto a shorter straight run into the hairpin right turn 8. After this comes the technical section of turns 9 and 10, two left hand corners of increasing severity that test drivers across all the WEC car classes on braking, gear changes and hitting the apex of each corner.
The back straight then runs in parallel to the main start-finish drag. At the end of this straight, drivers must navigate through the moderately fast S-bends of turns 11 and 12, culminating at the right-hand turn 13. A good racing line and exit speed is vital here to launch cars down the long straight down towards turn 14. After braking partially to maintain speed through this right-hander, drivers are left with another slight right-hand bend in turn 15, before applying full power down the main straight to finish the lap.
Since the track’s first introduction in 2004, there have been some slight alterations to the layout – with some changes made to turn four, which decreased the overall track length by 5 metres. Otherwise, it's fundamentally the same since its inception.
The German architect Hermann Tilke designed the circuit. Interestingly, he’s also responsible for the racetrack in Malaysia. The total cost of development came to a massive 56.2 million Bahraini Dinars, which equates to a staggering $150 million US Dollars. There was a major worry at first, that sand from the desert would blow onto the track and obstruct the drivers. This hasn’t been the case, as a special solution sprayed onto the sand in the surrounding areas of the track stops it from blowing over.
Bahrain facts and stats
Now let’s look at some interesting things about the Bahrain circuit. There’s been twists, turns, ups and downs over the years here. This year’s event is set to be a spectacle too. Below are some interesting facts about the Bahrain WEC.
- First race year in WEC, and first endurance race in overall history - 2012
- Total length in lap distance (miles) – 3.3 miles
- Number of turns - 15
- Overall duration (hours) – 8 hours
- Typical number of pitstops – 4-5
- Most successful drivers (in WEC) – Mike Conway
- Fastest WEC lap - 1:43.169 (Mike Conway, Toyota Gazoo Racing - 2020)
- Highest G force – 5.2g (braking into Turn 1)
The Bahrain international circuit is also the home of the Bahrain F1 race. Interestingly, the first turn pays homage to Formula One racing legend - aptly named the Michael Schumacher turn. A nod to the Formula One legend, they changed it to this to celebrate his contribution to motorsport after his life-changing accident in 2013.
Why should you go to Bahrain international circuit?
We’re almost at the finish line. An eight-hour long World Endurance Championship event is not to be missed. Expect plenty overtaking moves in the heat of the desert and pit stops a-plenty as the Hertz Team JOTA drivers push their machines to the limits. Bahrain international circuit hosts hundreds of racing events each year, from drag racing and GT cups to F1 and touring cars – and, of course, the World Endurance Championship. Visit this circuit for a unique racing spectacle, with an epic motorsport battle surrounded by sand dunes.
Like all WEC races, it’s a marathon not a sprint – who will make it through the long haul?
