Bahrain Unrest Threatens Formula One Season Opener

Topics:  Bahrain Grand Prix

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
February 17, 2011 at 6:10 pm

Formula One officials have expressed concern about the viability of holding next month's season opening Grand Prix auto race in Bahrain, where at least three people have been killed and more than 200 wounded this week in mounting political unrest.

The Formula One season is scheduled to begin on March 13, with the cars and personnel to arrive in Bahrain next week to prepare for the final pre-season test starting March 3.

Formula One team officials are scheduled to confer Friday in Barcelona, Spain to discuss the situation in Bahrain. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone said Thursday he intends to wait until next week before deciding whether to go forward with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

On Thursday, officials cancelled two Formula One feeder-championship races scheduled for Friday and Saturday, following deadly overnight violence in Bahrain's capital, Manama. Race organizers said they called off the GP2 Asia Series event at the Bahrain International Circuit at the request of the Bahrain Motorsport Federation.

Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have been staging anti-government protests in Bahrain this week. They follow similar demonstrations in Cairo and other Egyptian cities, that forced Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from office last Friday.