10 Tenths Grand Prix Preview - Bahrain (ITV schedule added)

[Super Tourer]

10 Tenths Grand Prix Preview – Bahrain 04.04.04

In the third of our race previews we look ahead to Bahrain – a leap into the unknown!


Part One


The 2004 Standings after Round 2

Drivers

1. M Schumacher -20 pts
2. R. Barrichello – 13 pts
3. JP Monyoya – 12 pts
4. J. Button – 9 pts
5. F Alonso – 8 pts
6. J. Trulli – 6 pts
7. R Schumacher – 5 pts
8. D Coulthard – 4 pt
9. F Massa – 1 pt

Constructors

1. Ferrari – 33 pts
2. Williams – BMW – 17 pts
3. Renault – 14 pts
4. BAR – Honda – 9 pts
5. McLaren - Mercedes – 4 pts
6. Sauber- Petronas – 1 pt

10 Tenths Tyre maker standings

1. Michelin - 44 pts
2. Bridgestone - 34 pts



Number of Engine Penalties – 3 (Alonso, Pantano and Sato elected to change engines due to their grid position)
Driver Penalties - 0



Inter team qualifying.

Schumacher 2 – Barichello – 0
Montoya 2 – R Schumacher – 0
Coulthard 0 – Raikkonen – 2
Trulli 1 – Alonso – 1
Button – 2 Sato – 0
Fisichella 0 – Massa -2
Panis 0 – Da Matta -2
Webber 2 – Klien – 0
Heidfeld 2 – Pantano – 0
Bruni 2 – Baumgartner - 0

[Super Tourer]

Bahrain Preview - Part Two


Looking ahead to the Race

As this is the maiden Bahrain Grand Prix, the first practice laps will be a leap into the unkown. However Williams recently ran a 2003 car there on some demonstration laps with Gene at the wheel, so no doubt they and Michelin have acquired some sort of initial data.

One concern has been the potential for sand to blow onto the circuit, however with this in mind the surface of the track perimeter has been compacted to reduce loose material and a bonding agent as been applied to adjacent sand and rocks!

Undoubtedly we will be in for a hot dry race, which will please the Michelin runners again, who managed to close the gap to Ferrari in the heat of Sepang. But, Bridgestone also showed that they have got to grips with higher track temperatures as well.

The layout of the circuit is four straights, joined by a mix of medium and slow speed corners – these should prove good out braking opportunities as long as the track is not like Hungary, and slippery off line!

As for the race itself, it’s hard to see anything else other than another Schumacher Ferrari benefit, however if Renault hadn’t shot themselves in the foot at Malaysia with a mix of poorish qualifying and a bad late strategy call in the race, they would have undoubtedly figured more in the race and could do here as well.


The Bahrain International Circuit

Length: 5.41 Km or 3.362 Miles
Circuit info and Map of the track: http://www.pitpass.com/src/circuits/bahrain.php



TV – Viewing schedule
To be added when times are available.





Race Weekend Timetable (local time) info: www.fia.com

At the World Council meeting on 24.03.04 a small change to the qualifying procedure was agreed:


FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Qualifying

Approved the following changes to the current qualifying format as from the Bahrain Grand Prix:

the pre-qualifying session will begin at 13.00 local time;

qualifying for the grid will begin at 14.00 local time;

other sessions on Saturday will also be one hour earlier.

This is reflected in the timetable below.


Friday 2nd April 11:00 to 12:00 – 1st Practice session

Friday 2nd April 14:00 to 15:00 – 2nd Practice session

Saturday 3rd April 09:00 to 09:45 – 3rd Practice session

Saturday 3rd April 10:00 to 10:45 – 4th Practice session

Saturday 3rd April 13:00 to 14:00 - Pre-qualifying

Saturday 3rd April 14:00 to 15:00 - Qualifying

Sunday 4th 14:00 – Race.


Follow the sessions with LIVE timing: http://www.formula1.com


Time difference.

Bahrain is GMT + 3 Hours.

Check the time differences. World Clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=15


Weather.

Outlook for the race weekend as of 25/04/04

Friday 2nd April – Partly Cloudy – Max Temp – 30 deg C
Saturday 3rd April – Partly Cloudy – Max Temp – 29 deg C


Weather Check: http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forec...p?locCode=OBBI

Longer Range Forecast: http://uk.weather.com/weather/local/...oo.com&promo=0


Betting Odds

World Championship
http://www.oddschecker.com/oddscheck...676x/sid/65842

[Mr V]

Good Job ST

Originally posted by Super Tourer

Outlook for the race weekend as of 25/04/04

Friday 2nd April – Partly Cloudy – Max Temp – 30 deg C
Saturday 3rd April – Partly Cloudy – Max Temp – 29 deg C

Any advantage Williams may have gained will be negated by Ferrari/Bridgestones softer tyre that runs better in the cooler tempretures than the Michelins do.

[jetsetter]

Does anyone know what time zone Bahrain is on?

[Carla O]

Originally posted by jetsetter
Does anyone know what time zone Bahrain is on?

Time difference.

Bahrain is GMT + 3 Hours.

Check the time differences. World Clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=15

[Carla O]

oops double post

[Mouser]

The track at Bahrain reminds me of airport runways linked
together,sort of like the Champ Car race in Cleveland.
Concerning the "bonding agent" applied to the sand around
the facility:Is it going to foul tires badly when someone
has an off?

[steve_r]

These previews are great. Thanks S.T.

[stubert]

Yes the previews are great...thanks

Advantage Ferrari. They have ran great so far and with a new track have the best chance of getting the setup right.

[climb]

Excellent job as usual ST!
Nonetheless, predictions on a brand-new track are real tough.

[Asp]

The Chat Room will be open for the usual preview Chat this Wednesday at 20:00GMT and the review the following week; and of course you can discuss the action as it happens during qualifying and the race. More info here

[Super Tourer]

The Bahrain GP on ITV1 and ITV2 3rd-4th April
(subject to change)

Qualifying
Repeat Sat 13:40 - 15:40

Race
Live Sun 11:40 - 14:40

Race highlights
Mon 00:10 - 01:10
ITV2 Mon 19:00 - 20:00

All times are GMT

http://www.itv-f1.com/tv_schedule/

[Super Tourer]

http://www.fia.com/sport/Championshi...rain/2004.html

This is the link to the Bahrain page on the FIA website.

Race distance:Lap distance: 5.417km/3.366 miles Race: 57 laps - 308.769km/191.869 miles

IMPORTANTLY - start time.

Race start time: Local 14.30
GMT 11.30

This is at odds with the normal - all races except North America and Malaysia (15:00) (IIRC) start at 14:00 local time. This start time is also different to ITV, who from their schedule would be joining the race 10 mins after the start....

Hmmmm

[Adam43]

Is the ITV schedule in GMT like it claims to be? Or is it BST? Maybe the ITV times were published before the clocks changed at the weekend and it confused them.

Assuming that the have got all the other information correct then they start the program 50 minutes before the race.

[Adam43]

That is it.

It is on the Johnnie Walker show.

[Pitstop]

Just missed it! Got 'Sally Traffic' and all the usuall Friday evening 'bog ups' around the UK.

Never Mind, was it any good?

[Mr V]

Missed it must say that i enjoyed Johnnie's show with Bernie and Nigel Roebuck the other week.

[Adam43]

It was good. There was a bit where Micheal said how good Bahrain was. They talked about the day today and how people didn't want a Ferrari 1-2. You'd have liked it Mr V!

There is, as normal, a radio 5 F1 show at 9pm tomight too...

[Asp]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
There is, as normal, a radio 5 F1 show at 9pm tomight too...

9:30pm tonight actually, so don't tune in 30min early and wonder what's going on.

I did catch the R2 preview too, don't panic if you missed it, just a brief resumé on what happened today and what to expect - you might get most of it later.

[Adam43]

Thanks for that Asp.

[Pitstop]

I'm now mainly a BBC radio 4 listener - used to be radio 2 - perhaps I'm now ready for Radio Ga Ga - where is it?

Freddie forever!