Motorsport in the Middle East - 2004 Fia GT Dubai 500km, 2005 Fia GT Motorcity GT 500, 2005-06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, United Arab Emirates, 2007 de (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 23. Chapters: 2004 FIA GT Dubai 500km, 2005 FIA GT Motorcity GT 500, 2005-06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, United Arab Emirates, 2007 Desert 400, 2008 Gulf Air Desert 400, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, Jordan Rally, Losail International Circuit, Middle East Rally Championship, Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, Rally of Lebanon, Turkish Grand Prix, Turkish motorcycle Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas V8 400. Excerpt: The Bahrain Grand Prix (Arabic: ) is a Formula One Championship race in Bahrain sponsored by Gulf Air. The first race took place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 4 April 2004. It made history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East, and was given the award for the "Best Organised Grand Prix" by the FIA. The Bahrain Grand Prix has usually been the third race of the Formula One calendar. However, in the 2006 season, Bahrain swapped places with the traditional opener, the Australian Grand Prix, which was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games. In 2010, Bahrain staged the opening race of the 2010 season and the cars drove the full 6.299 km (3.914 mi) "Endurance Circuit" to celebrate F1's 'diamond jubilee'. The 2011 Grand Prix, due to be held on 13 March, was canceled on 21 February due to the 2011 Bahraini protests after drivers including Damon Hill and Mark Webber had protested. Human rights activists called for a cancellation of 2012 race due to reports of alleged human rights abuses committed by the Bahraini authorities, team personnel also voiced concerns about safety. The race however was held as planned on 22 April 2012. The building of the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir was started in 2002 with high domestic interest about the project as it gave a future to the next generation of Bahraini racers. Bahrain had fought off fierce competition from elsewhere in the region to stage a F1 race, with Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates all hoping for the prestige of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix. By the completion of the project, the circuit became the center of motor sport in the Persian Gulf, as it held many other races such as drag races, GT races, Formula 3 races and the Australian V8 Supercar series. The first race was in 2004. The race was won by German driver Michael Schumacher for Ferrari. Fernando Alonso won the second Bahrain Grand Prix for Renault in 2005, and then became the first repeat wi