Bahrain Martial Law ends, boost talks for Bahrain GP

Click to find out more

Bahrain lifted martial law on Wednesday in what the government hopes will be a sign to tourists and business of a return to normal.

The authorities are especially keen to get back the Formula One race. Bahrain GP was the season opener that was canceled due to the unrest during March. Since then, Speculation for the return of Bahrain GP to the F1 Calendar have risen continuously.

A meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will take place on Friday in Barcelona which could reinstate it for later this year, but U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has said a heavy crackdown on opposition activists during 11 weeks of martial law should count in the decision.

Zayed Rashid Al Zayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit which holds the Bahrain Grand Prix, said that the Gulf country was ready to "hold the race today." Al Zayani said he was hopeful it will be held in October or November to coincide with the Abu Dhabi GP on November 13.

It was the first time Bahrain has formally said its Bahrain Motor Federation has proposed rescheduling the March race. "We feel we are in position to have that event back," Al Zayani said. "Things have calmed down tremendously in Bahrain. Life is back to normal. We are happy to have the race anytime really."

In Paris, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said yesterday that he was hopeful that the Bahrain GP would be reinstated on this year's calendar. "If there's peace there and they're happy, we're happy to compromise and make things happen for them," Ecclestone said.



If the Bahrain GP is reinstated

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is believed to be considering 20 November, the week after the Abu Dhabi GP, which could mean the season-ending race in Brazil, scheduled for 27 November, is moved back by a week.

Ecclestone is considering moving the Indian GP back to 11 December - or cancelling it - in order to accommodate the return of the Bahrain race to the calendar.



However, F1 Teams are united against shift of Finale to December, according to Mercedes GP Team Principal Ross Brawn.

Speaking to motor sports website autosport.com Brawn said that shifting the Indian Grand Prix from October 30 to either December 4 or December 11 would create logistical problems for team members of all the teams.

"It is getting too much," said Brawn. "Our guys have been working since January, we don't have test teams anymore, so the same guys have been working since January and we are asking them to work into December and that means there is no time for a holiday before Christmas and that would mean getting straight back in to it in January.
Bahrain Martial Law ends, boost talks for Bahrain GP