Bahraini.TV

Facts and figures for Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix:

Circuit: Sakhir, 5.412 km/3.363 miles, race to be held over 57 laps. Total distance 308.238 km/191.539 miles.
GMT start time: 1130
2005 pole position: Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault one minute 29.848 seconds.
Race lap record: Schumacher, 1:30.252 (2004).

Records of leading drivers in Bahrain (NOTE: 2004 race was the first held in the Middle East):

2005 2004
Fernando Alonso 1 6
Kimi Raikkonen 3 R (retired)
Michael Schumacher R 1
Juan Pablo Montoya – 13
Giancarlo Fisichella R 11 Ralf Schumacher 4 7
Jarno Trulli 2 4
Rubens Barrichello 9 2
Jenson Button R 3
Mark Webber 6 8 Nick Heidfeld R 15
David Coulthard 8 R
Felipe Massa 7 12
Jacques Villeneuve 11
Christian Klien R 14
Tiago Monteiro – 10
Christijan Albers – 13
Takuma Sato R 5

Resume of previous races (NOTE: in 2005 and 2004 the race was the third round of the season):

2005 (Alonso, Renault)
Alonso started on pole and won his second race in a row and Renault’s third. Michael Schumacher retired with hydraulic failure after struggling Ferrari took a gamble and rushed their new car into service two races ahead of schedule. Trulli was second for Toyota with Raikkonen following for McLaren’s first podium of the season. Pedro de la Rosa stood in for McLaren’s injured Juan Pablo Montoya and was fifth.

2004 (Schumacher, Ferrari)
Schumacher started on pole for the third race in a row and won for the third time in a row as well, with Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello following in second place. McLaren had a miserable weekend with both cars retiring.

Circuit details:
Located in the south of the small island country and surrounded by desert, the $150-million Sakhir circuit is one of the most modern in the world.

The undulating, clockwise Grand Prix layout consists of a kilometre-long start/finish straight and 12 corners with three clear overtaking points.

Sand can be a problem, making the track slippery and accelerating the rate of tyre wear.
Reuters :: 8 Mar ’06