Engineers from Bahrain’s F1 circuit will produce hundreds of ventilators for Covid-19 patients and will share the blueprints worldwide at no charge.

These engineers from the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) designed the breathing apparatus units in two weeks that can be used for non-ICU patients in need of respiratory assistance.

The device was built from scratch in partnership with intensive care doctors from Salmaniya Medical Complex’s Respiratory Therapy Department and Medical Equipment Department.

Following extensive testing and approval by Bahrain’s Ministry of Health, an order for the first 100 machines has been placed.

Initially, two different machines were designed and both were approved – the first by design team lead and BIC mechanical engineer Kamel Al-Taan and the other by Tareq AlTajer.

“At a time of global crisis, we have been seeking ways in which the BIC can support the fight against COVID-19. Our engineers have met that challenge by designing a ventilator system specifically to support those suffering from COVID-19,” Fayez Ramzy Fayez, COO at BIC in a rpess statement.

Bahrain International Circuit has hosted the annual Formula One Championship since 2004. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s race has been postponed.

The announcement of the ventilator’s comes after Formula 1’s seven UK-based teams announced plans to work together in Project Pitlane – a part of VentilatorChallengeUK, which aims to quickly produce medical equipment during the crisis.