What you may not know about the Bahrain circuit.

The Bahrain International Circuit is nearing completion and the much-awaited day when the construction contractor officially hands over the ceremonial keys to the circuit organisation is approaching.

The home of April's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is a vast engineering project and the inaugural race on April 4th will be a momentous occasion for all those people involved in its construction.

During the course of the last 15 months since the official ground breaking ceremony undertaken by His Highness the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York, many activities have taken place to bring the dream of the circuit to fruition.

Once the FIA Formula One World Championship arrives in town the list of interesting numbers will increase but for the time being here is a breakdown of some of the more fascinating facts associated with the home of the first Formula One race to be held in the Middle East.

Specifications
Six different individual tracks:

- 2.55km inner track with a width varying between 14 and 15m (8 turns).
- 3.664km outer track with a width varying between 14 and 17m (10 turns).
- 5.411km Grand Prix track 14.22m width.
- 1.2km drag strip with a width of 18.5m.
- 2.5km test oval.
- 3.6km Paddock Circuit (9 turns) 14-22m width.

Specifications of the Grand Prix track:

- Investment $150 million US.
- The inner and outer circuits are configured to form an F1 Grand Prix track.
- Maximum uphill slope: 3.60%.
- Maximum downhill slope: 5.60%.
- A relief that ranges from 0 to 18m.
- 15 turns (6 left, 9 right).
- Forecast lap time for a F1 car: 1m 33s.
- Forecast average speed: 210kph.
- Length of start/finish line: 1090m.
- Four straights: Pit straight: 1090m / Turns 3-4: 555m / Turns 10-11: 680m / Turns 14-15: 750m.
- Workforce: 3,000+ at peak time.
- Total man hours worked: 8,265,000 hrs.
- Total sub-base for track: 272,648m2.
- Total asphalt base course: 60,000 metric tonnes.
- Total asphalt binding course: 30,000 metric tonnes.
- Total asphalt wearing course: 30,000 metric tonnes.
- Total stabilised soil: 140,000m2.
- Total quantity of concrete used: 70,000m3.
- Total steel: 8,500 metric tonnes.
- Total rock excavation: 968,459m3.
- Total filling: 500,000m3.
- Total length of tyre barriers: 4,100m.
- Total number of tyres: 82,000.
- Total guard rail: 12,000m.
- Total FIA safety fencing: 5,000m.

The Bahrain racing circuit includes:

- A nine-storey VIP tower (Sakhir Tower).
- A total capacity of 45,000 spectators (including non-permanent stand).
- A main grandstand for 10,000 spectators and first-class hospitality suites.
- A technical resource centre dedicated to an F1 Grand Prix.
- Dedicated buildings for 18 international racing teams.
- Administration and hospitality buildings.
- A second pit building with lounges and grandstand for 3,000 spectators.
- A medical centre constructed and equipped to international racing standards.
- A broadcast centre for local and international media.
- A media centre for 500 journalists with 300 television sets.
- Under-track pedestrian and vehicle tunnels.
- Vending area for merchandising.
- New dual-carriageway road access from Manama to Circuit.
- Parking facilities for 13,000 cars.

While the main focus of the circuit will be motorsport activities the state-of-the-art venue with the superb nine-storey Sakhir Tower and grandstand facilities offers many other possibilities for conferences, open-air concerts and international incentive business five-star corporate facilities.