FIA confirms Bahrain Grand Prix will not take place in the 2011 calendar – Formula 1 news
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has confirmed that the Bahrain Grand Prix will not be held in the 2011 Formula 1 season.
After eluding the Formula 1 authorities for about five months, finally the race is being officially called off due to the political unrest in the country and Formula 1 teams concern.
Recently, the Bahraini officials and Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that the race cannot be scheduled in the 2011 season due to questions raised on security and logistics cost.
Bahrain was given a green light in the World Motor Sports Council conference in Barcelona but right from the decision date, criticism hit the Formula 1 officials.
Initially Bahrain was to be held in early March but was postponed due to the civil unrest that struck the whole gulf region. Ecclestone was convinced that the unrest will be over soon and the Formula 1 world will visit the nation in the spirit of good gesture.
In June, the WMSC decide to give Bahrain a race date in October which would have shifted the inaugural Indian Grand Prix to early December.
However, two concerns were raised about the Bahrain GP. Firstly, the Human Rights activists termed the race day a ‘day of rage’ which was a security concern. Secondly, the cost of going to the Kingdom and the stretching of the season beyond December would
have increased the cost and reduced the rest time for the Formula 1 teams.
The Formula One Teams Association issued a statement to WMSC demanding the cancellation of the Bahrain GP.
The teams also said that 20 races in a year would mean that each Formula 1 team will have to appoint two functional technical staffs which would work in shifts in order to get proper rest in between the seasons.
Nevertheless, first Ecclestone and then Bahraini officials withdrew from the race and now the final verdict from the FIA has confirmed that the race will not be held in the 2011 calendar.
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