F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2015 kicks off in style

Manama, Apr.17 (BNA) All eyes will turn to Bahrain today as the 2015 Formula Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix kicks off in style at the iconic Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), the home of the motorsport in the Middle East. The much anticipated Formula One action in Sakhir will get underway with a pair of hour-and-a-half long free practice sessions – the first scheduled to be held from 02:000 p.m. to 03.30 p.m. The 5.412 kilometre BIC desert track will then be lit for the second hour-and-a-half long free practice session, scheduled to kick-off at 06:00 p.m and conclude at 07:30 p.m. A third free practice will be held tomorrow (Saturday-April18) prior to Qualifying at 6pm. The Bahrain Grand Prix will then flag off at 6pm on Sunday (April19) for a 57-lap race under the stars, amid fierce battle between the Mercedes Star driver and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's driver Sebastian Vettel, who is 13 points behind and who claimed Ferrari's first win of the season in Malaysia. Racing will also be held all weekend in the pair of supporting championships, including the GP2 Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be the fourth of 19 races on the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship, following races in Australia, Malaysia and China. It will be the second successive year that the race will be held under floodlights, making for a brilliant spectacle for race fans who are both attending the event and those watching on live television from around the world. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton leads the drivers' standings with 68 points after winning the season opener in Australia, finishing second in Malaysia, before clinching the Chinese Grand Prix. Sebastien Vettel (Ferrari) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes team) rank second and third respectively, totaling 55 and 51 points.