A FIRE and rescue team is ready to tackle any unexpected incident at this weekend’s season-opening Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2023.
The 19th edition of the world’s famous desert F1 race, which will be held from Friday to Sunday, will the landmark 10th race at night under the Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) state-of-the-art floodlights in Sakhir.
The Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) is working relentlessly to get the 70-strong fire and rescue team ready.
“We started by holding theoretical lectures and practical training on how to deal in the event of a fire and the proper procedures to rescue any race driver in case of any accident,” said F1 emergency team co-ordinator Ayoob Al Salman.
The team will continuously check on the functionality of all existing equipment including fire extinguishers located in all areas of the circuit as well as in the team’s nine cars.
“When needed, the team will act swiftly in co-ordination with the race tower, which issues the orders to take action, bearing in mind the safety of the marshal and team member during the rescue operation,” said Mr Al Salman.
“Everyone still remembers the horrific accident involving F1 driver Romain Grosjean.”
The fiery accident made F1 headlines after his car crashed into a barrier before splitting in two and bursting into flames at the 2020 race in Bahrain.
He miraculously scrambled out of the blazing wreckage of his car almost unscathed, apart from minor burns to his hands and ankles, thanks to a brave marshal and swift response by the F1 medical team.
The GDN reported yesterday that around 120 specialists, including surgeons, anaesthetist, plastic surgeons, orthopaedic and emergency physicians, were also put through their paces during live exercises and mock drills organised by the BMF.
Meanwhile, the logistics team, headed by Abdul Rahman Ghuloom, is also ‘making lists and checking them twice’ ... so to speak.
“One of the most prominent tasks assigned to the team includes constantly monitoring the progress of the participating teams including ensuring inspection teams at each garage where the cars can be checked and declared free of any mechanical violations. This also ensures that everything complies with international specifications and standards for racing cars,” he said.
Mr Ghuloom said that there was an increased female presence on the logistics team after completing their training in different areas during the F2 and F3 races, which were organised last week at the track.
For more information on this year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, visit the BIC stand at City Centre Bahrain, go to bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on 17450000.
mai@gdnmedia.bh
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