The decision to reschedule the race in Manama in October was welcomed by the businesses and the sports lovers but unfortunately the decision to have Bahrain F1 on board for 2011 schedule couldn’t get through as the decision was likely to be reversed in a FIA meeting set for Friday or Saturday.
The Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit Zayed Zayani, who addressed the press conference just after the FIA decision to go ahead with Bahrain’s race, highlighted the importance of this yearly event specially in terms of economic benefits.
The event was projected to generate $500 million, a major cushion to the national economy which had been shaken badly by the recent unrest in the country. The event was also expected to generate 3000 jobs for the season in addition to millions of dollars revenues in terms of advertisement and other services such as transportation, hotels and hospitality sectors.
The decision to this affect was announced following a letter from the team’s organisation FOTA saying they were unhappy about the Manama race returning to the calendar on October 30.
“Hopefully there’ll be peace and quiet and we can return in the future, but of course it’s not on,” said Ecclestone.
“The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants… they’re the facts.”
None of the 12 teams that make up the grand prix field, it seems, was in favour of holding the race in the present circumstances, but their reservations were based on concerns over simple logistics and personal safety rather than a high moral vision.