» Bahrain GP to remain under floodlights

Its first race under lights is yet to be run, but Bahrain Grand Prix officials have confirmed that the Gulf race will remain a night-time race for the foreseeable future.

The Sakhir circuit is staging its first night-time Grand Prix this year, the event’s tenth running since it joined the calendar in 2004, with yesterday’s qualifying and today’s 57-lap race held under fully floodlit conditions.

The artifical lighting system was first used at last year’s FIA World Endurance Championship finale, and with ticket sales for this year’s Grand Prix in higher demand, organisers have opted to continue with the night-time scheduling over the remainder of the event’s current contract, which runs until 2016 with the option of a further five years.

“We have invested in the lighting project and it’s a permanent structure – so going forward all our Grands Prix will be held at the same time from now on,” Zayed Al Zayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, told AUTOSPORT.

“It would not have been wise to just do the night race as a one-off.”

Image via Sutton Images