The second round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series will be run on Bahrain International Circuit’s full Grand Prix layout.

Using the complete circuit, rather than the shortened version, extends the track from 3.6km to 5.4km.

V8 Supercars Australian confirmed to its team’s yesterday afternoon that the full track would be used.

The V8 Supercars have raced at Bahrain three times before (2006-2008) and according to Ford Performance Racing driver Steven Richards, the Bahrain round now becomes “brand new.”

“It makes it a brand new track, I think,” he said.

“Even driving on the existing second half that we’re already used to, the whole dynamic changes. The way you can pass around the place with be different, plus we’re going to have to learn the first half of the circuit.

“I always thought the first part of the Grand Prix circuit offered even more opportunities for cars to pass, so I think it’s great.”

Richards said that fans should expect to see better racing.

“I think that we’ll still get five wide into turn one, but we’ll also get plenty of other opportunities to pass as well,” he said.

“The first part of this track is a lot tricker compared the second part. It offers a lot more room to pass, and that will clearly provide better racing.

“The double left braking into a hairpin, which joins our old circuit – that’s going to be unreal. There’ll be plenty of stuff going on.

“I think every driver out there has always wished that we could drive on the full GP circuit, because it really does look great.”

The 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series kicks off at Yas Marina Circuit (Feb 18-20), followed a week later by the Bahrain Desert 400 (Feb 25-27).