Bahrain Grand Prix Now Off

Topics:  Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
June 10, 2011 at 6:20 pm UTC

The rescheduled Formula One Grand Prix auto race in Bahrain is going to be removed from the 2011 calendar.

Teams opposed the new date of October 30 that was assigned by the world governing body, FIA, at a meeting last week in Barcelona. The race was originally scheduled for March, but was called off because off anti-government protests in Bahrain.

The plan to hold the Bahrain event in October meant pushing back the inaugural Indian Grand Prix from October 30 to December.

Indian organizers say they are awaiting official confirmation from FIA on their original race date.

The removal of the Bahrain Grand Prix is a bureaucratic formality and officially awaits a vote by the 26-member council, which is expected in the next few days.

A group that represents 11 of the 12 F-1 teams had opposed the reinstatement of the Bahrain race because of logistical and insurance concerns.

The teams also said that without a written agreement by all of them, there could not be a change in the calendar that was published before the start of the season.

Human rights groups welcomed the cancellation of the race, saying the government has admitted that Bahrain is not back to normal.

The annual Formula One race has been Bahrain's most profitable international event since 2004, when the island nation became the first Arab country to stage a Grand Prix.