Two races are finished in the 2008 Formula One season and the series is now heading to its only event in the Middle East, this Sunday's Grand Prix of Bahrain.
The Bahrain International Circuit is fairly new to the schedule, with this weekend marking its fifth anniversary of F1 competition.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa is the defending race and pole winner, and he'll look to capitalize on that success as he tries to gain his first points of the season. Ferrari was one of only two teams to test in Bahrain in the off season.
Renault's Fernando Alonso is the only other current driver to have won on the 3.381-mile circuit. He captured back-to-back wins in his two championship seasons in 2005 and 2006.
But this past success may not be able to help either of these drivers, as all 22 drivers are facing a new challenge in Bahrain: racing for the first time there without electronic traction control.
"Bahrain is a challenging circuit and this will also be an interesting event as only two teams have tested here before the start of the season," Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone's Director of Tire Development said. "A lap of the Bahrain International Circuit is exciting, and traction out of the slower corners is crucial for a good lap. As this is a 'traction' circuit it will be interesting for drivers to find the best balance without the assistance of traction control. Just as last season, we should see some thrilling racing in Bahrain."
Bahrain's circuit layout makes maintaining traction a crucial part of seeing a good race finish. The track has several tight corners that lead onto short straights. It's also located in the middle of the desert and the blowing sand and heat make for a slippery track.
"The sand makes the grip level lower and the tires do not bite to the tarmac quite as well and it can be slippery in places," McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen said of Bahrain.
This circuit could be the best illustration so far of just how well teams and drivers have adapted to the elimination of traction control. The series eliminated the use of computer-aided traction control prior to the 2008 season. Traction control was an electronic system which regulated power to the rear wheels to eliminate wheel spin.
"I think that the race will probably be eventful, a bit like Melbourne, with the drivers making mistakes more easily as a result of the new regulations and the absence of driver aids," Rookie Nelson Piquet said.
The opening race in Melbourne saw nine of the 22 drivers retire due to accidents.
"In the end, we are supposed to be the 22 best drivers in the world, and I think everyone is good enough to adapt quickly to driving without traction control," Toyota's Jarno Trulli said of the absence of traction control. "It's the right way to go, to bring a bit more control to the driver and that makes it interesting. It's good for the fans to see more black marks on the track again."
With the demands of the Bahrain International Circuit, fans may see a lot of on-track drama again this weekend.
The track is a complex mix of 15 slow and medium speed corners connected by three high speed straights, the fastest of which will see the cars peak at 320kph at the end of the pit straight going into turn one.
Practice begins Friday morning, with the first session scheduled to start at 3 a.m. (ET) and the second at 7 a.m. Qualifying and the final practice will take place Saturday morning beginning at 4 a.m. (ET).
Sunday's Grand Prix of Bahrain begins at 7 a.m. (ET) and is televised live on SPEED.
