Another green fields (read ‘white sands’) purpose-built development to secure the ‘Bernie and Max Formula 1 show’ in this part of the globe. The 5.4 km Hermann ‘the German’ Tilke-designed circuit only cost NZ$200m to build, and has fittingly recently received an award from the FIA for Centre of Excellence. At that price I should think so too.

Opened in 2004 for the F1 GP, the local Sheikh had originally asked for a 1-year extension from Bernie because it wasn’t quite ready. Following the obvious ‘No’, they just managed to get it ship shape for the weekend. I think the paint was still wet and apparently they sprayed glue on some of the sand around the circuit so that it wouldn’t blow onto the track. You just can’t make up stuff like that.

http://www.bahraingp.com.bh/

By Phil Clark