Bahrain circuit ready to host F1 testing, gears up for Schumacher

Jan 12, 2010, 16:07 GMT

Sakhir, Bahrain - Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is prepared to host pre-season testing for the Formula One teams if they opt for it, Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer of the Gulf island's desert circuit, said Tuesday.

Whitaker said the teams might prefer to hold their testing closer to home ahead of the season opener at BIC in March because of time constraints, but added if any of the teams choose to carry out testing in Bahrain circuit they were ready to host them.

'The first race is on March the 14th so to a degree it makes more sense to them to be closer to their bases in the UK and Europe, but a lot of it depends on how the weather does in Europe,' Whitaker told German Press Agency dpa following a press conference at the BIC circuit in Sakhir, south of the Bahraini capital Manama.

'You cannot go outside because everybody is doing snow drifts, so it's difficult for everybody.

'We had run 38 days of testing here at the BIC and only lost two of them to weather, the other 36 the teams were able to run from 7.30 in the morning to 5.30 at night in constant temperatures. I am sure we will get a few requests but we will wait and see.'

Whitaker also said that the circuit was planning to fully capitalize on Michael Schumacher's return to further promote the sport and the circuit.

'He is a superstar and the more people who realize that Michael Schumacher is coming back, not just for the race here but for the championship, the eyes of the world will be on him,' he said.

He added that they were planning to use Schumacher advertisements as soon as pictures of him in the team car and the new overalls become available.

'As soon as we get some images we will use it, believe me, we will use it,' he said.

Schumacher had won Bahrain's first ever F1 race back in 2004 and he is credited to a large extent with helping raise the sport popularity in Bahrain and across the region.

The seven-time world champion will be returning to racing with his new Mercedes team - last year's winners of the Bahrain race - making his debut at the Bahrain circuit which will be hosting its seventh F1 race.