Revving up for F1 race

BAHRAIN is ready and raring to stage the Gulf Air Bahrain Prix this season according to track officials ... but Formula One Group CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who has been bullish about the event until now, appears to be wavering.

Political unrest led to the kingdom withdrawing from hosting the season's opening race and a deadline for a decision about rescheduling it was postponed until June. The State of National Safety will now end on June 1, according to a decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad.

Speaking to Formula1.com, Mr Ecclestone said: "It's difficult to say. If they are happy to have the race, I am sure we are happy to be there. But we would need a guarantee that there won't be problems. But right now I don't know how anybody could guarantee that because it might be peaceful now, but who knows in the future?"

That is why today's campaigning edition of GulfWeekly could help play a pivotal role in convincing the F1 supremo to set a new date for the race this year.

Editor Stan Szecowka will hand deliver copies of the petition to Mr Ecclestone's Formula One Management office in Knightsbridge, central London.

He said: "Sports unites people and everyone in Bahrain loves the Formula One weekend. We have had some difficult times recently and rescheduling the Gulf Air Grand Prix 2011 would be a tremendous boost to us all."

Mr Ecclestone is understood to have met this weekend in Turkey with Zayed Rashed Al Zayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit. In an interview with specialist motoring magazine Autosport, Mr Al Zayani said: "If it was up to us, we are ready. We are happy to have it. We are ready to host it. But unfortunately it is not our decision alone.

"There are many factors involved. We are hoping for the best and would like to have the race back obviously. It was our decision at the beginning of the year to postpone the race because there were more priorities happening in Bahrain. Things are calm now, life is back to normal.

"We are in a position to have international events once again - and we have already confirmed the CIK (an international karting race recently highlighted in GulfWeekly) event in November plus other motorsport events. And, we are happy to have F1 back in Bahrain. We have been there for seven grand prix events already and we would like to continue."

Mr Al Zayani said that discussions with F1 chiefs had not got as far as sorting out a possible date for the event, but believed that working that out with the FIA was the next step to resolving its future.

"We have to find a solution with them (the FIA)," he said. "We have to reach a solution, whether we have a race or not. And, if we have the race, then they will need to work more than us on the date. We are there any day of the year.

"And, if they can slot us in somewhere, then we will start planning for the actual event to take place. Otherwise, if the consensus is not to have a race for this year, then we will wait for the 2012 calendar and then we will plan accordingly."

Although there have been some criticism of the money spent on the circuit and the cost of staging the race, no-one can doubt the immense economic impact of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

For example, income from the event was a major contributor to the estimated $4.6 billion Bahrain made from tourism in 2008. Also, research from more than 1,000 organisations found that local and regional businesses contributed almost $30 million, from marketing, event infrastructure and operational costs.

Bahrain benefited to the tune of $116.8 million from visitor spending on accommodation, food and drink, retail outlets, travel services (including airline and car rental) and other products and services.

The race also generated $13.8 million in ticket sales and $36.7 million from fans buying food, drink and merchandise at the BIC.

More than $7.7 million was raised through the selling of television rights, commissions, facility rentals, sponsorship referrals and catering commissions.

A total of 76 per cent of visiting spectators travelled by plane, with almost half using Bahrain's flag-carrier, Gulf Air.

A total of 586 jobs were created by the race directly and indirectly - up 46 per cent from 2007. A survey of 67 hotels and resorts also showed occupancy rates during the event period ranged from 75 per cent to 100 per cent.

The recent unrest which led to the cancellation of the opening race devastated the kingdom's hospitality sector.

Bahrain's Grand Prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrainis and expats living on the island.

It is a showcase to the world and the country is looking forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula One back to Bahrain.

Although no official decision has been made on a new date for the rescheduling of the race in Bahrain, insiders suggest that the race could take place at the end of the season, after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and before the final race of the season in Brazil.

Sign the petition on Page One today.