The Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead next week as planned, Formula One bosses declared on Friday, despite fears it could be targeted by violent anti-government demonstrations.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone made separate announcements in Shanghai, venue of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The controversial Bahrain event set for April 22 has overshadowed the lead-up to Sunday’s race in Shanghai and many teams are believed to have grave concerns as new clashes erupted on Friday.
It was postponed last year after protests broke out against the government, and was thought to be in jeopardy once again because of the more than year-long demonstrations.
With the FIA and Ecclestone under intense pressure to make a final ruling, the flamboyant 81-year-old had a 30-minute meeting with the teams before emerging to proclaim the race had never been in any doubt.
Asked by AFP if he was 100 percent sure Bahrain was on, he said: “Two hundred percent.”
Ecclestone added: “Everybody’s happy. You guys are happy.”
Prompted if he had any concerns, he said: “Not at all. It’s a ‘problem’ which has been discussed by the media, who have no idea what is going on.
“This race is on the calendar and has been on the calendar for quite a long time. We will be there. All the teams are happy to be there.”
The FIA said in a statement that it was “satisfied” that sufficient security was in place at the Sakhir circuit to deter protesters who say they will target the event.
There were fresh disturbances on Friday around the funeral of citizen journalist, Ahmed Ismail, 22, who was shot dead by loyalist militia late last month, witnesses said.
Mourners, who numbered in the thousands, chanted slogans against Sunni minority monarch King Hamad.
FIA president Jean Todt led a fact-finding mission to the kingdom in November, the association added, meeting the interior minister, members of the royal family, European ambassadors and the business community.
“All expressed their wish for the grand prix to go ahead in 2012, and since then, the FIA has kept in close touch with all these stakeholders,” the FIA said.
Bahrain says it is now safe, despite a recent upsurge in violence and mounting sectarian tensions, including a bomb blast Monday that wounded seven police officers and a revenge attack on Shiite villagers.
Washington said this week that it was “deeply concerned” and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday criticised “the excessive use of force” against protesters.
Publicly, at least, teams were putting on a brave face.
“We are confident in the FIA. They are much closer to the situation than any of the teams are,” said Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, after the talks with Ecclestone.
Asked if he was happy with the decision, Horner said: “The thing is that it is now clear. The confusing thing has been the uncertainty. Everybody in the paddock is now clear that there will be a race in Bahrain next week.”
McLaren driver and 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton gave little away.
“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” he said, denying it was a relief that a decision had finally been made. “I’m just focused on this race first and foremost.”
Bahrain welcomed the news, reiterating that the kingdom was safe.
“The FIA made the right decision,” Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) chief executive Sheikh Salman bin Issa al-Khalifa told AFP.
“Of course, some people were influenced by the wrong information. But we now expect… a rise in ticket sales.
“This confirms the lack of credibility of any information” over lack of security, added Sheikh Salman.
The BIC said in a statement: “The BIC has been clear throughout recent weeks and months that the security situation in Bahrain is suitable for the staging of a major sporting event.”
“This assessment has been provided by experienced figures, from both inside and outside the Bahraini government, to motor racing entities which have travelled to Bahrain to do their own research.”
Source : AFP
