JEDDAH, 17 November 2006 — Motor racing fans in the region get to witness the popular V8 Supercar Australia competition when Bahrain hosts the 12th round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series next weekend.
The V8 Supercar entourage and at least 1,000 V8 fans from Australia are coming down to Bahrain for the two-day race dubbed Desert 400. Reigning champion Russel Ingal in a Ford Falcon BA along with teammate James Courtney and Holden driver Mark Skaife are among the competitors seeing action in the race to be held at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) next Thursday and Friday.
The Bahrain organizers are upbeat in welcoming the event to their shores.
BIC Chairman Talal Hussain said that V8 Supercars is the second most popular sport in Australia after the Australian Rules football, adding this sport is more popular than cricket and attracts television audience of 4 million in Australia alone. Some 3.3 million fans watched a series leg held outside Australia on television, he said.
Hussain said an Australian business committee would hold consultations with BIC to try and market the event with a view to attracting commercial and investment opportunities.
One of the world’s most spectacular touring car series, the penultimate leg of the V8 Championship has travel companies from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Lebanon busy with preparations to transport fans to Bahrain.
Hussain said the event is expected to contribute positively to the Bahrain economy and boost tourism.
Meantime, Gulf Air Holidays is offering attractive packages for motor sport enthusiasts to experience the action live. The packages take care of accommodation, tickets, transport, etc.
“Gulf Air is now a household name for motor sports ever since we became the title sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix,” says Gulf Air Vice President, Business Units, Ali Murtada.
“It’s natural for us to associate with such prestigious race events held in Bahrain — the home to motor sport in the Middle East Region.”
