MANAMA (Bahrain): Bahrain Grand Prix organisers have officially confirmed they will be hosting the Formula One race on April 22.
Top brass at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) headed by chief executive Sheikh Salman Bin Isa Al Khalifa said in a press conference that the racing weekend will be April 20-22 and will be held under the slogan “Unified One Nation”.
He also said special discounts will be offered to fans for tickets, which will be sold across the country. Bahrain was initially scheduled to host the season opener, but F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone suggested a change in the calendar.
Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine Hall of Fame recently that the Formula One’s governing body can be trusted to make the right decision about racing in Bahrain, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
“As far as I am aware, we are definitely going,” Horner had said. “We rely on the FIA, it is the FIA Formula One world championship, and Bahrain is one of the races on the calendar.”
The 2011 Bahrain round was cancelled due to civil unrest in the country. Several F1 teams voiced their concerns on not to hold the race due to alleged human rights violations. Videos of anti-government protests were reportedly sent out to drivers and teams to create a sense of fear.