Gulf Air gears up to welcome Grand Prix 2006

The road show, the third campaign conducted jointly by Gulf Air and BIC since the first Formula 1 in 2004, will head to Beirut, Dubai, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The campaign will begin on 30 January and end on 13 February.

"We are delighted and proud to team up, once again, with BIC, with whom we share a very strong relationship. Together with BIC, we will make sure that the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix 2006 becomes an excitingly memorable international sporting event,"

says Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan.

"The first race of the season is traditionally the most exciting and based on extremely successful campaigns, we are in top gear to welcome Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, due to be held on 12 March 2006.

As the official carrier and title sponsor, Gulf Air has lined up a series of publicity and marketing campaigns and other associated activities, attracting international motor sport participants, enthusiasts and spectators alike to Bahrain to witness the greatest racing event of the year.

"Gulf Air is committed to building on the success of last year's event and at the same time grab the opportunity to promote Bahrain as a hub for tourism and business in the region," says Mr Hogan.

Bahrain has already made its mark in the international motor racing scene with its state-of-the-art Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) as the Middle East region's best circuit and Gulf Air is only too happy and proud to be associated with the event that will reinforce Bahrain's position firmly in the international motor sport map. The kingdom is also the leading financial centre in the region.

"We are all very, very proud of this announcement and the confidence that F1 has in the people of Bahrain to stage the first race," says BIC general manager Martin Whitaker.

"This is certainly a huge step forward not only for us at the BIC, but also for Bahrain and the region's motor sport industry at large.

"Last year's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix proved an outstanding success with almost every available seat sold out. We are confident that the buzz that is already growing for the forthcoming race will make this the most successful to date."

The Formula 1 World Championship has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious, popular, exciting and technically-sophisticated competitions in the international sporting calendar.

The sport transcends all boundaries of age and nationality to capture the imagination and enthusiasm of millions of people and its global popularity finds its rivals in the Olympic Games or the world football championships.
Last year's event drew several international race champions, celebrities, dignitaries, VIPs and more than 50,000 spectators from around the world to Bahrain.

It received overwhelming positive comments and popularity from every corner of the world. 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.