Bahrain Given May Deadline
Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix have been given until 1st May to prove the postponed Formula One race will be able to go ahead later in the season.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement: ‘The World Motor Sport Council asked the Bahrain Motor Federation to communicate by May 1st at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011’.
The race was due to open the 2011 season but was postponed after civil unrest in the country, and the season will now begin in Melbourne, Australia, on 27th March.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince decided to cancel the race two weeks ago, because of violent clashes between protesters and government forces.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his desire to reschedule the race, provided the situation has calmed down – if the race is rescheduled, it will almost certainly take place at the end of the season, with an August date rejected because of the heat in the country.
Ecclestone said: ‘We’ll have a look and see what we can do, how we can swap things round a bit, maybe we can change with Brazil or something like that.”
Brazil is currently due to close the season on 27th November.
‘If there’s peace in Bahrain, we’ll be there’.
