Guest blog from The Pitlane Twins: Grand Prix Bahrain experience
Embarking on our journey to the Bahrain GP marked a significant milestone as it became our 16th F1 travel adventure. This also marked our second race in the Middle East, yet the first offering the opportunity to partake in the F1 testing days for free. Set against the backdrop of a night race, the Bahrain GP exuded a distinct charm, long nestled atop our wish list. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let us regale you with our Bahrain GP experience.
There were a few things to take care of beforehand. Most importantly: the visa to enter the country in the first place. The state of Bahrain offers a special visa especially for F1 guests, which can be obtained free of charge. We applied for the visa online and received confirmation within a few hours that we were allowed to enter the country. There was also the option of getting a visa on arrival at the airport. But as we didn’t want to stress ourselves and were due to land in Bahrain late at night anyway, we did this in advance.
We also looked for an eSim card, as it is of course important to us to be able to surf on our cell phones. To be honest, it wasn’t easy to find a suitable offer. The pricing also seemed expensive to us, we paid €22 per eSim for 3 GB. We are used to cheaper prices in other countries. But we’ll come back to the subject of expensive prices in Bahrain later.
Arriving at the circuit was a breeze despite its remote location from the capital city, Manama. Thanks to our booking with P1 Travel, a shuttle service was seamlessly organised, whisking us to and from the track at specified times. With just a 45-minute journey, traffic remained minimal across all three race days, with only slight congestion exiting the city – a norm in Bahrain, as we were informed. In addition to P1 Travel’s shuttle, the circuit offered its own shuttle service, catering to various hotels and ensuring race enthusiasts reached the track hassle-free.
Upon arrival at the track, the positive impression of good organisation was reinforced: security checks at the gates were quick, and long queues never formed. We found many opportunities to relax between sessions, buy food and drinks, or spend time at the numerous experience stands.We particularly enjoyed watching the free practice from the ferris wheel on Thursday. It gave us an overview of the size of the track.
The track had a spacious fan zone, which, in our opinion, didn’t offer anything particularly special. There were many typical entertainment options, such as sim racing, driver interviews, and merchandise stands.
We found it particularly positive that, in addition to the food stands offering various dishes, there was also a supermarket that, while offering a limited selection of food and drinks, did so at reasonable prices. We paid almost 5 euros for two 0.5L bottles of water and a Snickers ice cream bar. Additionally, there were free water stations.
The modern buildings and facilities also stood out positively. There were only permanent toilets, all of which appeared clean and well-maintained at all times. Overall, the entire area was clean and inviting.
There was a friendly atmosphere at the track, but for us, there was a bit lacking in atmosphere and racing spirit. The pre-race show with artist Diplo really set the mood and got the audience dancing, or at least swaying. However, during the sessions and the race itself, we felt that the usual excitement one would expect from the first race of the season was missing.
If you were to ask us about our highlight, we would both answer without hesitation: the pitlane walk on Wednesday. It was free and well-organized. Additionally, race enthusiasts were given plenty of time, and we were able to spend 1.5 hours in the pit lane.
It’s always a special feeling to climb the stairs to the grandstand for the first time. However, the Main Grandstand has something truly unique: you not only see the track but also the teams’ pits. It was incredibly interesting to observe what the pit crew was doing between and during sessions, whether it was working on the car or practicing pit stops.
When the cars started their formation lap, we were excited and waited for the first car to come around the final corner and find its place on the starting grid. Now, nobody stayed in their seats, and everyone filmed the last seconds before the start with their phones.
When the second red light went out, the engines got louder, and our hearts beat so fast that we could clearly feel it in our chests. As the last light went out, the grandstand got incredibly loud, and every fan followed their favorite driver through the first corner. On the screen directly across from the grandstand, we could follow everything and could hardly wait to see the cars pass by us again.
It was an unreal feeling for us as the cars went in for pit stops, and we could follow it all live. Watching the garage crew jump from their seats, get ready, and wait for the car was fascinating. More than 20 seconds passed between the crew’s preparations and the start of the pit stop. Who would have thought? It always seems much shorter on TV!
With tickets priced at a reasonable €325 per person for the Main Grandstand, the Bahrain GP 2024 offered unparalleled value, including access to F1 testing days. We highly recommend this race to enthusiasts seeking an international F1 experience without venturing to the pricier American circuits. Our adventure in Bahrain left us with unforgettable memories, reaffirming our passion for Formula 1.
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