Bahrain flagged off a major milestone in its history last year when it was given the green light to stage Formula One motor racing in the Kingdom - fighting off competition to become the first country in the Middle East to host this prestigious sporting event.

The historic deal was signed at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and marked the end of two years of intense preparations by Bahrain.

Already, the foundations have been laid for Bahrain Racing Circuit's main structures - namely the main grandstand, the VIP Tower and the pit building, with superstructure works now under way. By the middle of this month, a 1,000-strong workforce will be in place at the site.

Work at the site in Sakhir began last November when 500,000 cu m of rock was blasted and cleared by Bramco on behalf of main contractor Cybarco Bahrain and WCT of Malaysia. Blasting works are expected to continue for the next five months to clear the rocky outcrop along the route of the circuits.

The Ministry of Works and Housing had invited prequalified local and international companies to bid for the project last May.

'The huge task of preparing and checking the design information and documentation was accomplished in a record time by the ministry and its consultants and the tendering period ran until the third week of September, followed by appraisal of the bids," says a spokesman for the Ministry of Works and Housing.

Some 10 companies bid for the project and Cybarco Bahrain and its Malaysian joint venture partner WCT emerged triumphant for the 16-month contract. WCT constructed the Sepang Formula One Circuit in Kuala Lumpur.

Germany's Tilke and Partners is the consultant of the project and is also managing and supervising its construction phase. Tilke's portfolio also includes the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia as well as the Formula One circuit in Nurburgring, Germany.

Situated on a 169-hectare site south of the Arabian Gulf University, this spectacular and truly world-class 60,000-capacity facility is designed to host all types and standards of automotive activities, from Formula One World Championship Grand Prix motor racing to driving training and vehicle testing, the spokesman says.

The unique complex will be the Middle East regional centre for motor sports of all kinds including karting, drag racing, sports and Formula racing and motorcycling.

The design includes a variety of circuit layouts which can be configured to suit any required length up to the Grand Prix circuit, which has a track length of 5.475 km.

It will also be possible to have different layouts of the various circuits running concurrently for different types of activity. Computer simulations predict that the lap time for a Formula One car on the main circuit will be 1 minute 33.63 seconds, representing an average speed of 210.39 kph, according to the spokesman.

Everything is on a fast track for the project with the facility and its safety features to be completed for FIA (Federation International of Automobiles) approval and certification before handover in March 2004.

The Bahrain Racing Circuit will be the first purpose-built track of its kind in the Middle East.

'We think the circuit will be the best and most advanced in the world," says project manager Gordon Calder. 'It has been designed from the racing point of view, the spectators' point of view and the safety point of view. This will be state of the art.'

The circuit comprises six individual tracks, four of which can be used simultaneously:

* A 5.475 km Grand Prix track - with a maximum uphill slope of 5.25 per cent and maximum downhill slope of 5 per cent. There are 16 turns.

* A 2.4 km inner track designed for testing -with a width varying between 14 and 20 m;

* A 3.4 km outer track - with a width varying between 14 and 20 m;

* A 1,200 m long by 18.5 m wide drag strip - which aims to cater to the already established and increasingly popular sport of drag racing. The strip has a timed mile acceleration distance constructed in concrete;

* A 2,500 m long test Oval - with two parabolic corners, providing a facility for warm and hot weather endurance testing of all types of vehicles and components under controlled conditions.

* A 1.6 km karting track: A full CIK-approved international standard karting school with dedicated race control, workshop, dining and viewing.

The Bahrain Racing Circuit's facilities will include:

* The main grandstand for 10,000. This three-storey high building will have a built-up area of 19,733 sq m. It will also feature hospitality suites and commentary booths.

* A pit building, which is partly three and partly two storeys, covering an area of 17, 587 sq m;

* A three-storey multipurpose building with a built-up area of 11,757 sq m; it will accommodate 6,000 spectators;

* A VIP Tower, which will dominate the skyline of the circuit at 10 storeys with a 30-m diameter. Its total area is 7,482 sq m;

* A medical centre designed to the highest international motorsport standards;

* TV broadcast and media centres;

* Six one-storey team buildings;

* Garages and team facilities to full F1 standards;

* Administration and maintenance buildings; and

*ÊExtensive car-parking facilities.

There will also be vast temporary spectator facilities, in keeping with other F1 circuits. There will also be an area measuring 800 m by 1.5 km, which will be available for private companies to take up to provide services for the drivers or tourism facilities," he said.

Apart from laying up to 210,000 sq-m of asphalt and 68,000 sq m of concrete paving, the contractor will also have to deal with the technical demands of applying Fl's rigorous standards to the Gulf.

A special committee has been appointed to oversee the Bahrain Racing Circuit development under the chairmanship of Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, President of the Crown Prince's court.

Aiming on the side of caution, Shaikh Mohammed gives an initial race track cost of BD52 million ($138 million) but adds that 'it really depends on how big you want to make it and could possibly be BD56 million.

Other developments that do not apply directly to the circuit - include new roads, flyovers, airport expansion and other matters that will serve us with F1 -- which are currently under way to upgrade and strengthen Bahrain's infrastructure, he adds.

The circuit is scheduled for completion by March 2004 and it is expected to host its first Formal One race later the same year.