Bahrain International Circuit, Racing Circuit

The Bahrain International Circuit sits in the desert at Sakhir, in central-western Bahrain about half an hour from the capital, Manama. Designed by Hermann Tilke after he was first approached in 1999, it opened in March 2004 and became the first venue to host a Formula One Grand Prix in the Middle East. The complex was conceived as a multi-layout facility, and several distinct configurations branch from the main loop, allowing very different events to share the same infrastructure. The Grand Prix Circuit of around 5.41 km with 15 turns mixes long straights with medium and slow-speed sections, its character defined by heavy braking into corners such as the Turn 1 and Turn 4 hairpins. A longer Endurance Circuit of roughly 6.30 km and 23 turns is used for sportscar racing, while a compact Outer Circuit of about 3.54 km with 11 turns provides a faster, simpler alternative. In 2014, to mark a decade of Formula One at the track, the Grand Prix became a night race run under floodlights, a format it has retained. The desert setting brings baking daytime heat and far cooler nights, conditions that shape strategy and tyre behaviour. Today the circuit hosts Formula One, Formula 2 and the World Endurance Championship, alongside regional events such as the Gulf 12 Hours and Middle East Porsche GT3 Cup. It also stages local touring car and motorcycle racing and holds an FIA Grade 1 licence for top-level competition and testing.

Operated by: Bahrain International Circuit