After a thrilling Grand Prix in Sepang, the Formula One teams have packed up and now face the logistical challenge of reaching Bahrain in time to begin preparations on Thursday for this weekend’s race. Each of the 11 teams travelling to the Kingdom of Bahrain will bring 50-80 shipping cases, containing up to 40 tonnes of equipment. Of that total weight, over 30 tonnes will be taken up by the mechanical needs of the Formula One cars themselves - including three chassis, engines, spare parts, tools, wheels and pit equipment. The remainder will be made up of pit-garage branding and extraneous equipment - even the utensils used by the team chefs!
Formula One racing has an information superhighway all of its very own - there will be approximately 180 large computers and 300 laptops in use between the 11 teams over the race weekend in Bahrain, supplied by over 3.5 kilometres of power cable and sending information through 5.5 kilometres of data cable. The team members themselves - approximately 1,200 in total - will be equipped with 1,100 walkie-talkie radios and headsets.
With just one week between Malaysia and Bahrain there's no time for anything except to head for the next circuit and do it all over again. As with Sepang, most of the teams tested at Bahrain's Sakhir track during the winter so should be prepared for the challenges of the desert. It's another hot race but the humidity isn't quite so bad as Malaysia.
Just under five and a half kilometres in length, Sakhir requires a compromise between downforce and speed to deal with the slow corners and long straights respectively. If it's windy sand can be a concern but over the last couple of years it's never seemed to be a huge problem. A variety of pit stop strategies were used in last year's Bahrain race so it will be interesting to see who does what this time around.
The Bahrain International Circuit opened in 2004 and hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix in April of the same year. The development of the circuit was funded by the Bahrain Government and firmly supported by the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a lifelong motor sport enthusiast. It is located in the city of Sakhir which is southwest of Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The track is a complex mix of 15 slow and medium speed corners connected by three high speed straights, the fastest of which will see the cars peak at 320kph (approximately 198.84 mph) at the end of the pit straight going into turn one. With the lowest cornering speed registered at just above 100kph (approximately 62.14 mph) at Sakhir’s turn five, and taken in first gear, the number of extreme braking events is high so brake preservation is paramount. Due to the extensive, high speed stretches, each lap will demand a full throttle percentage of 62%; combined with the braking, cooling and sand variables, engine reliability will be a considerable factor in the race’s outcome.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
