Backed and financed by the Bahraini government, the Bahrain International Circuit was built at the request of Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in order to host the country’s Formula One Grand Prix.

Construction began in 2002 and was completed in early 2004, just in time for the country’s first Grand Prix. The circuit heralded a new era for motorsport in the Middle East.

The track uniquely utilises a special asphalt, designed to cope with the pressures of temperature in the desert. Parts of the surface features Greywacke aggregate from Bayston Hill Quarry on the outskirts of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.

The track has hosted the Bahrain Grand Prix every year since 2004, with the exception of 2011 when the event was cancelled due to local government protests.

For 2005, an ‘Endurance Circuit’ section was added, which enabled racing to take place on a 6.3 km layout which hosted Formula One on one occasion in 2010.

In 2006, touring cars took on the circuit for the first time when the Australian V8 Supercar Championship visited for the first time – it subsequently returned in three of the next four years, before ending with the 2010 race.

Six more years elapsed before international touring cars returned, with the TCR International Series supporting the F1 events at the track for two seasons.

The FIA World Touring Car Cup visited in 2022 when alternative venues were required following the cancellation of the series’ Asian leg.