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The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) became the first Grand Prix venue to receive the prestigious FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award in Monaco on Friday. The handcrafted sterling silver trophy was collected by Martin Whitaker, General Manager of the BIC, ahead of the sporting body’s gala ceremony.

Commenting on the award, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, said: “The FIA has always shown the Bahrain International Circuit support which has encouraged us to go beyond the expected. Honouring the circuit with such an award makes the Kingdom even more proud of our achievements.

"Our country continually strives to maintain one of the top Formula One circuits in the world. Everyone who works directly or indirectly with the BIC all share the significance of this prestigious acknowledgement.”

The award was devised by the FIA to honour and encourage excellence in all aspects of motor sport safety. It is given to circuit facilities which exemplify the high standards expected by the Institute in terms of technology and the way it relates to best medical, marshalling and race control safety.

“The Centre of Excellence is a fantastic honour and we are very proud to receive it,” said Whitaker. “The Bahrain International Circuit has strived to maintain the absolute best in standards and to set a benchmark for other circuits can follow.

"The ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign has been a springboard to many other initiatives programmes for the BIC which we are beginning to implement but which would not have been possible without the full support of the FIA and the Centre of Excellence Award is the backbone of this support.”

In 2006 - the inaugural year of the award - Paul Ricard, the established testing facility in Le Castellet, southern France was honoured.