Building Infrastructure Motorsport
Client: Ministry of Works & Housing
Consulting engineer: Tilke & Partners
Period: 16 months
Completion: Mar 2004
Price: $150,000,000
The circuit is located in the Sakhir area of Bahrain. At commencement the area was undisturbed desert and within 483 days the project was handed over in record times and is still classified as the fastest “Rock to Race” circuit ever constructed. The Project comprises of two permanent grandstands, Pit building and paddock club, VIP tower, Gate House’s/Security Areas, Medical Centre, Maintenance Areas, Workshops, Media Centre, Team Buildings, Satellite Broadcasting Compound, Various tunnels, off roading facility, Catering and Hospitality areas, Dragster Track and Race Control.
The surface of the track is a special asphalt mix utilising graywacke aggregates, imported from the UK, with the addition of Calcinated Bauxite for ultimate levels of grip. The surface material is highly acclaimed by circuit bosses and Formula One drivers for the high level of grip it offers and as it has unique properties is also liked by the tyre manufactures as a test of various rubber compounds.
The project was not due for completion until May 2004 with a race date of November 2004. However, FOM revised the race schedule so that the inaugural race would be the 4th April 2004 which meant a significant acceleration to complete ahead of schedule. The project is constructed mainly on solid rock however a full “commercial quarry” was set up on site and the majority of the rock was reprocessed for use in the works.
At the construction peak there were over 4,5000 workers employed on the project.
Overall Seating Capacity – 50,000 Persons
Length – 5.412
Longest straight – 950m
Elevation change – 20m
No. of laps for F1: 57
