PARIS  — The 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be held on April 6 at the Sakhir circuit near Manama, will be staged at night, organizers announced Friday.



Floodlighting has been installed and will be tested out at this weekend’s final round of the World Endurance Championship.



The move to a night race in the Gulf state will mark the 10th anniversary of the first Bahrain Grand Prix, won by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari in 2004, and will also be welcomed by drivers, given the high daytime temperatures in spring.



Bahrain will be Formula One’s second night race - Singapore has been held after dark since its inception in 2008.



Abu Dhabi is a twilight race, starting in late afternoon and ending after nightfall.



Bahrain Chief Executive Sheikh Salman Bin Isa Al-Khalid said the lighting, which will be completed by February, “marks a major step in our ambitious plan for the circuit. It is the most important development since it was built.



“There can be no better way for us to mark our 10th anniversary in F1,” he added.



The Sakhir circuit will replace Barcelona for the final two rounds of pre-season testing, in February 2014, with the first session still taking place at Jerez, Spain, in January.



Maldonado joins Grosjean at Lotus



Lotus confirmed the signing of Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado Friday in a move that will trigger a domino effect on the Formula One driver market.



The British-based team said in a statement that the well-funded Maldonado, who has spent the last three years at Williams, would partner Frenchman Romain Grosjean in their 2014 lineup.



He replaces 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who is returning to Ferrari.



“It is a fantastic opportunity for me to join Lotus F1 Team for 2014,” said Maldonado, who raced for Lotus principal Eric Boullier’s DAMS team in the 2005 World Series by Renault championship.



“It’s no secret that I have wanted a change of scene to help push on with my Formula One career and Lotus F1 Team offered the very best opportunity for me to be competitive next season.



“The regulations and cars will change significantly so it is a very good time for a fresh start. I can’t wait to be racing in black and gold.”



Maldonado’s departure from Williams had been announced earlier in the month by the under-performing former champions, who have signed Brazilian Felipe Massa from Ferrari to partner Finland’s Valtteri Bottas.



The Venezuelan’s next move had been keenly watched, with Force India and Sauber waiting to see where he ended up before making their own decisions. — Agencies