BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

When you walk through the gates of Sakhir, you can't believe your eyes. There, lost in the dunes and jebels of Bahrain, a monument of glass and steel towers over the horizon. An abandoned (spaceship) in the desert? No, the control tower of one of the world's most impressive racetracks. The Bahrain International Circuit stretches out its 140,000 m² of asphalt right in the middle of the desert. On the road leading up to it, you'll be surprised not to come across a racing car as you round a bend. When you pass someone on the road, you wonder if it wasn't Max Verstappen at the wheel. As you approach a straight line, it's hard to resist pressing down on the gas pedal with all your might. There's no doubt about it, this is the realm of Formula 1.

As in all Gulf countries, the car reigns supreme. So it's hardly surprising that motor sports is one of the archipelago's favorite pastimes. The Crown Prince, Salman ben Hamad ben Issa Al Khalifa, is himself an absolute admirer of these cars. So he set about making Bahrain the first country in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

In 2004, Salman made his dream come true. On the starting line, glistening in the desert sunshine, Michael Schumacher was on pole position. Under his expert hands, the roaring Ferrari engine rumbles to life. Top start! It's April 4, 2004, and the first F1 race in an Arab country begins. 57 laps of a tight race from start to finish. On lap ⁷, Kimi Räikkönen and his McLaren-Mercedes were forced to retire. On lap ⁴², the other Ferrari driver, Rubens Barrichello, overtook the German to take^{1st place}. But obliged to leave victory to his illustrious team-mate, the Brazilian retired as planned on lap ⁴⁴. In second place, he prevented Jenson Button's Honda from getting in Michael Schumacher's way in the final laps. At the finish line, the greatest racing driver of the 1990s and 2000s raised his fist: he had just won the ^73rd race of his career. The first Bahrain GP was a resounding success for the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A Pharaonic project, and a unique opportunity to make Bahrain shine in the world, this project was a battle of every moment. It all began on board the Concorde. Prince Salman was in the company of Sir Jackie Stewart, a former F1 driver. While chatting, Salman Al Khalifa came up with the idea of building the Sakhir circuit, which would put the Kingdom on the world map. It wasn't until 2002 that the government, convinced of the project, decided to make it a "national priority". Construction began in October of that year. In all, 70,000 m² of concrete, 8,500 tonnes of steel and, since 2015, 495 electricity pylons line the route. Since 2015, the race has been held at night, at 6 pm. As the GP takes place in April, it's far too hot for the effort required to drive such machines. A driver could lose 2-3 kilos in one race.

And the heat wasn't the only challenge facing the construction site. German architect Hermann Tilke was well aware that building a circuit in the middle of the desert presents a number of difficulties. The first was the sand, which could lick the track and cause it to swirl. This would make the track dangerously slippery! A solution was found: apply an adhesive along the entire length of the track, strong enough to prevent the sand from infiltrating. Finally, in March 2004, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa inaugurated the $150 million circuit, and the country's first F1 race was held on schedule! Since then, the circuit has become a regular feature of the F1 championship. Only the events of 2011 prompted the authorities to cancel the event, which was held as normal in 2012.

But Sakhir isn't just about Formula 1. Other competitions take place regularly: endurance, karting, dragsters and even cycling events are organized. The track can also be hired by racing teams for test drives, or by enthusiasts wishing to test their vehicles under professional conditions. The site also includes a conference center, paddock club and permanent grandstands for up to 70,000 spectators.

Visiting the circuit is an extraordinary experience. Apart from the official store, the obligatory entry point to the circuit, there are many other facilities to visit, such as the control tower, from which you'll have an unrivalled view not only of the track, but also of the entire desert that surrounds it. Then there's the backstage area, the press rooms, the control room with its wall of screens, the race director's control box and, of course, the different teams' stands. And if you like speed, you can try your hand at sports driving at the wheel of a rental car (opening dates to be consulted on the website). Admittedly, it's not F1, but the experience is second to none. On certain days, you can also take part in a karting session on the adjacent FIA-approved circuit. And for the more adventurous, driving experiences in a Clio Cup, Radical SR1 or even a dragster are available.