Gulf Air day packages for Grand Prix 2007 a hit among F1 fans

"With just days to go before the race, we can delightfully say that our day packages are a hit with hundreds of F1 fans across the region, who have no doubt become a part of the international community celebrating Formula One," says Gulf Air Vice President Marketing and Sales Lee Shave.

"We sold several hundred packages last year and this year the packages are selling very fast all across the region and we have put additional capacity from here especially for the main race day."

He says 70 percent of the passengers arriving for Sunday's race are availing the day packages.

The day packages, available from across the region, includes an entrance ticket to watch the race, return economy class airfares from the destinations to Bahrain, meet and greet service at the Bahrain International Airport, coach transfers from airport to Bahrain International Circuit and back, a goodie bag containing cap, ear plugs and a water bottle cooler.

Other packages for the Grand Prix, on April 13, 14 and 15, are also available for travel in business class and watch the race from other vantage points at the circuit. These are exclusive to Gulf Air and it's the only way a person can purchase an all-inclusive package that takes care of everything.

Gulf Air along with Bahrain International Circuit kicked-off a regional road show in January to promote the day packages, which for the first time included Lebanon and Cairo, Egypt.

The tour, the fourth campaign conducted jointly by Gulf Air and BIC since the first Formula 1 in 2004, began in the home of the region's motor sport, Bahrain and went on to Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, Kuwait, Lebanon and Dubai.

"With millions of followers across the globe, Formula 1 is no doubt the most prestigious and sought after motor sport event," adds Mr Shave.

Gulf Air has extended its title sponsorship for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix until 2010.

As a global event the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has paid rich dividends in terms of establishing the Kingdom firmly in the sports atlas. And, being the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the title sponsor of the prestigious event, Gulf Air is reiterating its commitment to promote Bahrain as an important tourism and business hub in the region.

Last year's event drew several international race champions, celebrities, dignitaries, VIPs and nearly 80,000 spectators from around the world to Bahrain. Gulf Air and BIC are closely working together to ensure that this year's event, on April 13, 14 and 15, surpasses the success of all previous ones.

The plaudits from the FIA, the teams - especially the drivers - and visiting fans alike is that Bahrain is now a race that ranks high on the list of the F1 calendar.