The technical challenge of Bahrain

Round three of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship takes us to the Kingdom of Bahrain for its only visit to the Middle East of the year. The 56-lap Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit, which is located 20 kilometres south of the Kingdom’s capital, Manama, and is one of eight tracks on this year’s calendar designed by Hermann Tilke.

The Bahrain International Circuit was built in 2003 at a cost of US$150 million and has staged the Bahrain GP every year since 2004. It has five different configurations of which the Grand Prix circuit is the longest layout at 5.412km (3.363 miles).

The cars average 210kph (130mph) around the lap and reach a top speed of 314kph (195mph) along the pit straight. The large asphalt run-off areas at each corner encourage overtaking and usually result in the Bahrain Grand Prix being one of the most entertaining races of the year.

Bahrain International Circuit: the technical challenge

There are six long straights at the Bahrain International Circuit and to achieve the maximum possible straightline speeds, the cars run with less wing than at either Melbourne or Sepang. The resultant reduction in aerodynamic grip creates balance problems through the twistier sections of the lap, where the overriding handling characteristic is oversteer.

The layout of the 5.412 km (3.363 miles) track shares some similarities with Sepang, the location of the last race on the F1 calendar, but the asphalt in Bahrain is smoother and provides less grip. As a result, Bridgestone bring softer rubber compounds to this race.

As the circuit is located in the desert, the ambient temperature can be in the high 30s. It's a dry heat, similar to that experienced in Melbourne, and shouldn’t pose any reliability problems for the teams. However, sand from the surrounding desert poses a genuine threat to reliability because tiny particles get sucked into the car's internal systems and the teams have to be extra diligent in their cleaning processes.

The key corners of the circuit are Turn 1, where the cars brake from maximum speed down to first gear, and the final corner. Both present potential overtaking possibilities.

Full throttle: 68%
Brake wear: Hard
Downforce level: Medium – 7/10
Tyre compounds: Soft / Medium
Tyre usage: Medium
Average speed: 210kph (130mph)