Deteღrmined to put on a show when it opens the Formula One world championship for the first time, the Bahrain Grand Prix has lined up an imaginative blend of professional and celebrity drivers for its weekend curtain-raiser.

A fleet of 16 identical Chevrolet V8 SS Luminas, capable of 280kph but not possessing the greatest handling, will be shared between a line-up comprising former F1 drivers Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Christian Danner and Tiff Needell, as well as current Williams tester Narain Karthikeyan, and a mixture of stars from sports and enไtertainment for the inaugural Bahrain Gulf Air Grand Prix Pro-Celebrity Race.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave heads the list of sportsmen engaged for the event, but the Briton will have to be on his mettle to make sure he sees off the challenge of fellow gold medallist Michael Johnson🌸 and d𒀰ouble world champion Rashid Ramzi, who will carry the hopes of the local audience.

Lebanese favourite Ragheb Alama, a man firmly established as 🔥one of the Middle East's top singers, will be keen to beat Ramzi in the name of local pride, but will also be up against other musicians, including Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mas🍨on, an avid classic car fanatic, as well as three time Grammy award winner John Legend and Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt.

It won't just be testosterone that rules, however, as British motoring journalist Emma Parker Bowles, Egyptian singer/actress Anoushka and Persian-born Laleh Seddigh, motorsport's answer to Ange𓄧lina Jolie, add some glamour to the 🧔line-up.

"I'm really excited," Redgrave admitted, "The race represents a neꦍw sporting challenge for me, and I'm keen to see I can perform as well on the track as I do off it𒐪. Of course, it will be fun, but I have a very competitive nature and I don't enjoy losing!"

The weekend will see Pro-Celeb races on both Saturday and Sunday, each consisting of ten laps, split evenlyꦗ between th🥂e racers and their star partners.