Formula 1 entered uncharted territory when it came to Bahrain for its first ever event in the Middle East in 2004.

Both Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley had long been keen to push the sport beyond its traditional European roots, and the addition of a race in a Gulf state was near the top of their wish list.

Despite fears that sand would play havoc with both engines and grip levels, the Sakhir track's desert location has been more of an incongruous backdrop for grand prix racing than an impediment of any kind.

The circuit itself follows the template created by now famous track designer Hermann Tilke, and features long straights leading into tight corners to maximise overtaking opportunities plus the obligatory state-of-the-art paddock buildings and grandstands.

The drivers are generally polite, rather than enthusiastic, about the layout - keen not to offend their gracious hosts, but privately admitting that its slow, fussy corners offer them little that they can really get their teeth into.

Sakhir has yet to host a truly classic race with Ferrari dominating the inaugural Bahrain GP and Fernando Alonso controlling the 2005 event.

Subsequent seasons saw a little more excitement as Alonso overcame Michael Schumacher in a tense duel which set the tone for their subsequent championship contest in 2006, and Felipe Massa resisted a charging Lewis Hamilton last year.

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