Bahrain Cancels Formula One Season-Opener

Topics:  Formula 1, Bahrain Grand Prix

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
February 21, 2011 at 4:50 pm

Organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix have canceled the Formula One season-opening race scheduled for March 13 due to unrest in the Gulf kingdom.

The running of the race had been in limbo for more than a week after demonstrations and a violent crackdown by the security forces. On Monday, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa made the decision to call off the event. In a statement, he said “it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain's Formula One race to a later date,''

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said it is sad Bahrain had to withdraw from the race and that his organization “wishes the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country,''

No new date has been set for the race. The next scheduled Formula One event is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 27.