JEDDAH: Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Gulf Air on Monday night announced Bahrain was gearing up to hosting the 2009 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The fourth race of the season will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) from April 24-26.

“The countdown to our sixth hosting of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is now well and truly under way. We stand a few days away from the biggest sporting and social event of the year and event that in TV exposure terms is second only to the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games,” Abdul Rahman Qarata, corporate communications director at the BIC, told a press conference.

“Over the years, fans of Formula One (F1) have come from all over the world to expect so much more from BIC and this year we promise to make it the most entertaining, biggest and best yet.”

Qarata added that the track would be a host for races supporting the F1 action including the final round of the GP2 Asia Series. GP2 is the ‘feeder’ category to Formula One introduced in 2005, from which all three champions have leapt straight into the top flight of F1. Inaugural champion Nico Rosberg scored points on his F1 debut in Bahrain with Williams in 2006, while his successor Lewis Hamilton managed to win the driver’s championship last season. Having seen Timo Glock step out of the GP2 season into the Toyota Formula One team, Bahrain’s very own resident driver Sebastien Buemi will be stepping into the world of F1 for Toro Rosso this year.

“This year will see more action and excitement than ever before as new rules and regulations have been introduced to transform the spectacle of the FIA Formula One World Championship,” Qarata added.

Since its inauguration in 2004 by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the BIC has received many prestigious accolades including the ‘Best Organized Grand Prix’ in 2004, ‘Best Advertising Campaign’ for the Almoayyed Tower in 2006, and now the only Grand Prix circuit to be an ‘FIA Centre of Excellence’.

“During the 2008 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix we witnessed almost 100,000 spectators attending the three-day race weekend. This year, we are hoping to go beyond this record to see a greater attendance as a thrilling season lies ahead,” Qarata said.

“Away from the track there will be plenty of added entertainment to look forward to. The line-up for race weekend will include three groups of five star acrobats. These high-energy acrobats will provide visitors with a heart-lifting performance not to be missed.

Additionally, there will be roaming acts making their way round the Formula One Village Vending Area, stilt-walkers, balloon-makers, acrobats, a professional face painter, children’s’ play area, etc.” Qarata said.

Alexander Peck, corporate communications director for Gulf Air, said: “Our sponsorship started in 2004 and since then we have been instrumental in the success of the event and the benefits it has brought to the region. The race has also become a firm favorite among fans from all over the world and we are proud to have brought so many first time visitors to the region to watch the race and enjoy the many other world class facilities Bahrain has to offer.”

Having just seen the opening round in Melbourne, Australia on March 29, the F1 championship runs through 17 events in 16 countries before culminating in the final race in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 1. As the world’s biggest annual sporting series, F1 attracts a global audience of more than 550 million viewers and takes place on every continent except Africa and Antarctica.