The countdown to the 2013 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has begun in earnest with yesterday's launch of a 60-day marketing blitzkrieg.

Addressing a packed press conference in Sakhir, a jubilant and smiling Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) Chief Executive Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa said the region’s biggest and most highly anticipated sporting and social event will take place on April 19-21.

"We have pulled out all stops to make this year's event the most memorable one," he said while announcing a series of programs. This will be the ninth time that Bahrain is hosting the Formula 1 race. "We have built our programs around the theme called 'Imagine Your Moment,'" he said.

Axcording to Shaikh Salman, this year's theme, "Imagine Your Moment" reflects both the excitement from all Formula 1 fans ahead of the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix as well as all the memorable moments people create during the enjoyable time they have at the race.

“There is always a special moment or two for whoever attends the Bahrain Grand Prix, be it on the track or off of it, and we would like all the fans to ‘Imagine Your Moment’ and feel the excitement of our upcoming Grand Prix,” he said.

The BIC has been working hard over the past several weeks gearing up for the upcoming Grand Prix, tackling the wide array of issues associated with hosting such a major event.

Now, with the final 60-day countdown to the race weekend, the BIC is set to become a hive of activity as it steps up its preparations and as everyone begins looking forward to all the thrills and enjoyment.

Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Officer Maher Salman Jabr Al-Musallam also addressed the press conference and spoke about Gulf Air’s involvement and support for the Formula 1 extravaganza.

"This will be Gulf Air’s eighth year as the official title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix," he said. "Since its beginning in 2004, the race has become one of the region’s most prestigious sporting events. The 2013 Formula1 Bahrain Gulf Air Grand Prix is expected to draw thousands of fans from across the Middle East and the international community allowing Bahrain to reap the associated economic benefits."

According to Al-Musallam, the Gulf Air-F1 sponsorship agreement has paid great dividends in firmly establishing Bahrain on the global map as the "home of motorsport in the Middle East" as well as raising the airline’s image as the sports ambassador of the country.

Salman said nearly 70,000 people attended last year’s Formula 1 race in Bahrain. "We are expecting an even larger turnout this year, with the growing popularity of the sport and the rapidly developing motorsport culture both in Bahrain and the rest of the Middle East," he said.

BIC hopes to come close to matching its biggest-ever turnout to the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend of 100,000 fans in 2010.

"Just as it is each year at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1 will not be the only racing championship that will be thrilling fans on the track," he said. "An action-packed program of international support races has been lined up, including the highly popular single-seater championship: the GP2 Series."

GP2 is widely accepted to be the chief feeder category to Formula 1. Many of the sport’s biggest stars today are all GP2 graduates, including former World Champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain, his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and Sauber ace Nico Hulkenberg, both of Germany, Argentinean Sergio Perez of McLaren, Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus, and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams.

At the Formula 1 Village located behind BIC’s Main Grandstand, race-goers will be able to enjoy the very best of top-class entertainment, ranging from musical performances, stage shows and mesmerising acts to carnival rides, parlour games and dazzling exhibitions.