Manama: The Gulf’s longest-running circuit racing championship returns to action this weekend for an unprecedented ninth season at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

The BIC 2,000cc Challenge kicks off its 2015/2016 campaign with the first of eight rounds on Friday (Editor’s note: October 2).

The highly competitive series gives gentleman racers a chance to drive in a professionally run championship with minimal costs.

The series is being run by BIC in cooperation with the Circuit Racing Club and Bahrain Motor Federation.

In preparation for this weekend’s events, a pre-season test was held at BIC in mid-September to give racers a chance to gauge their cars’ capability.

On Friday, competitors will be battling it out along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre Inner Track. All the action will be held under floodlights, as night racing once again takes centre stage at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”.

On-track events begin at 5pm with a 30-minute free practice session. The drivers will then have 40 minutes to get their cars set up for qualifying, which begins at 6.10pm and is held for another 30 minutes, concluding at 6.40pm.

The night’s first 12-lap race is scheduled for a 7.40pm start. Race two, also over 12 laps, will be held from 9.22pm. Racing will be followed by the podium ceremonies where the winners will be awarded.

Following Friday’s season-opener, round two has been scheduled to take place November 6. Round three is then slated for December 4. It will be the final action of year.

The new calendar will be ushered in with the fourth round of action on January 8, to be followed by the fifth meeting on February 12. March 4 will mark round six, while the final two meetings of the season will be held on April 22 and May 6.

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the defending champion of the BIC 2,000cc Challenge. He won last year’s crown in dominant fashion with 235 points to his name. Shaikh Hamad would be going for back-to-back tiles and a third overall in the upcoming season.

For more information on the BIC 2,000cc Challenge or other BIC activities, visit the circuit’s official website on www.bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on 17-450000.