Inaugural Bahrain ProAm 1000 Confirmed for January

Photo: Gulf 12H

Bahrain International Circuit will host the inaugural Bahrain ProAm 1000, in what’s being billed as a “ground-breaking” GT endurance race dedicated to gentlemen and semi-professional entrants.

Scheduled for Jan. 28, the first edition of the 1000km race was originally set to take place last December but was canceled due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions according to event promoter Andrea Ficarelli.

The format will be open exclusively to Pro-Am and Am lineups, with Pro-Am featuring a combination of a FIA-rated Gold driver alongside Silver or Bronze co-drivers and the Am class dedicated to Silver and Bronze drivers only.

In addition to a GT3 class, GT4 and Cup cars will also be eligible for the enduro.

“We want to celebrate the gentleman and semi-professional drivers whose passion and commitment is vital to endurance racing by offering them a world-class, unique event,” said Ficarelli.

“We believe now is the right time to launch this new international event, tailor-made around gentlemen and semi-professional drivers, on one of the world’s most prestigious circuits.

“By opening the Bahrain ProAm 1000 only to ProAm and Am driver line-ups, we guarantee that at least one gentleman driver will stand on the top of the podium.

“Thank you to our friends at Bahrain International Circuit who have shared and supported this vision.”

The event is a cooperation between Bahrain International Circuit and Driving Force Events, promoter of the Gulf 12 Hours, which hosted an edition of its race at BIC in 2021 due to pandemic-related restrictions.

The Gulf 12 Hours moved back to its traditional venue at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in January and is set to host the season-ending round of Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli on Dec. 9-11.

In addition to the Bahrain ProAm 1000, the relaunched Middle East TCR series will be in action over the Jan 27-28 weekend at the home of the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix and FIA World Endurance Championship in the Middle East.

“With our long history of hosting endurance racing, we are delighted to bring the first edition of the Bahrain ProAm 1000 to the Kingdom,” said Bahrain International Circuit commercial director Sherif Al Mahdy.

“The unique structure of the race, combined with the relaunched Middle East TCR series in the same weekend, offers a true racing spectacle for fans. We look forward to welcoming all those involved early next year.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John