The first batch of winners in Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) Early Bird weekly raffle draws has been named. They have each come away with valuable prizes as part of BIC’s fantastic promotion on tickets to the 2013 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX. Said Hathout was this week’s big winner. He overcame the odds to win two of the five prizes up for grabs in the inaugural draw, taking home both a brand new iPhone and a BIC 4x4 Xperience package. Meanwhile, Philip Eckles won a brand new iPad, Louie Legaspi came away with a BIC Dragster Xperience package, and Pierre Griod won a return air ticket to Dubai. The draw took place on Sunday (December 23) at the BIC premises in Sakhir in the presence of a Ministry of Industry and Commerce representative. Each of the winners has already been contacted by circuit staff and they have already picked up their prizes. BIC Media and Public Relations Manager Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa personally presented the prizes and wished each winner the best of luck in the upcoming grand raffle for a chance to win a brand new Mini Cooper JCW. Each of the winners in BIC’s weekly draws are still automatically entered for the final draw which will be held at the end of the Early Bird promotional period on January 31, 2013. BIC and its official partners have provided each of the gifts. The brand new Mini Cooper JCW is courtesy of Euro Motors, the iPhones and iPads are courtesy of Batelco, the return air ticket to Dubai is courtesy of Algosaibi Travel, and “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East” are providing the Xperience packages. More of these valuable prizes are to be won this coming Sunday (December 30, 2012) when the second of the weekly raffle draws take place. All those who purchase tickets to the 2013 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX under the Early Bird promotion are entered. BIC’s Early Bird Discount offers the best value for money with a 15 per cent reduction on the ticket prices. Tickets are now being sold at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre and Seef Mall. They can be bought for seats along BIC’s Main Grandstand, Batelco Grandstand, Turn One Grandstand, University Grandstand and Victory Grandstand. After the 15 per cent discount, tickets to the Main Grandstand are now BD153 for all three days of the Grand Prix. The Main Grandstand offers an ideal view of the start and the finish, the circuit’s main straight, the main Pit Lane, and the winners’ podium. A ticket for Race Day alone costs BD131.75 under the Early Bird Discount. Tickets to the Batelco Grandstand, which overlooks the inner circuit and the Support Race Pit Lanes, are BD102 for all three days and BD89.25 for Race Day alone. At the Turn One Grandstand, where the field of more than 20 cars competing in the Grand Prix can be seen trying to squeeze past one another while hoping to remain unscathed, tickets are BD68 apiece for the weekend and BD59.5 for Race Day alone. For the University Grandstand, located just after the first couple of turns, tickets cost BD55.25 over three days while a Race Day pass costs BD46.75. Finally, the Victory Grandstand overlooks the circuit’s final turn. Tickets cost BD42.5 for the entire Grand Prix weekend and BD34 for Race Day. All three-day ticket holders will be able to enjoy exclusive activities with their passes, such as a Pit Lane Walk on the Thursday afternoon of the Grand Prix. The Early Bird Discount also covers Friday Roaming Tickets, which gives the holder the opportunity to move around the circuit freely and watch the weekend’s practices for the Grand Prix from any of the strategically located Grandstands. After the 15 per cent reduction, the Roaming Ticket costs BD55. The 2013 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX will be held on April 19-20-21 at BIC. For more information on tickets or on the race weekend itself, visit Bahrain International Circuit’s official website, www.bahraingp.com, or call the circuit hotline on +973-17-450000.