Bahrain unlikely, Indian GP may get back October dates
June 8th, 2011 - 9:23 pm ICT by IANSLondon/New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) The inaugural Indian Grand Prix is likely to be restored to its original Oct 28-30 dates with 11 of the 12 Formula One teams reportedly opposing the reinstatement of the Bahrain Grand Prix this season.
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said they have to keep in mind the wishes of the teams.
“Hopefully we can return (to Bahrain) in the future, but of course it’s not on (this year),” BBC quoted Ecclestone as saying.
“The schedule cannot be rescheduled without the agreement of the participants (teams) - they are the facts.”
It was only last Friday that FIA’s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) met in Barcelona and gave a green signal to the Bahrain race in October which was earlier cancelled in March due to anti-government protests.
But the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) wrote to the FIA Tuesday stating their opposition to the Bahrain race in the current season.
“FOTA - which represents all the F1 teams bar back-of-the-grid Hispania - expressed its objections to Bahrain being rescheduled on logistical grounds, its letter saying that the idea of adding a 20th race in December would be “unbearable to our staff”,” said the BBC report.
“They say it is not practical to add the race at the end of a long season and asked for the Indian Grand Prix to be moved back to its original date,” it added.
Sources in Jaypee Sports International, the organisers of the Indian Grand Prix, however told IANS that they have not received an official confirmation from the FIA on the race moving to its original date (Oct 28-30). The source added that FIA did not keep them in the loop even when the Bahrain GP was reinstated Friday, pushing the India race to an unspecified time in December.
The teams are currently gearing up for the Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh race of the season scheduled for this weekend.
- Ecclestone asks F1 teams for re-vote on Bahrain GP - Jun 07, 2011
- Wanted a race in Bahrain as they have helped F1: Ecclestone - Jun 11, 2011
- Indian Grand Prix will be now F1's season finale - Jun 03, 2011
- Bahrain refuses to give up hope of rescheduling F1 grand prix - May 01, 2011
- Bahrain Grand Prix deadline to be extended: Ecclestone - Apr 29, 2011
- Bahrain GP organisers say F1 race on - Feb 20, 2012
- Bahrain Grand Prix to be rescheduled for end of F1 season - Feb 21, 2011
- 'Managing logistics for Indian Grand Prix a major challenge' (Lead) - Jun 02, 2011
- 'Managing logistics will be a humongous excercise in Indian GP' - Jun 02, 2011
- FIA: Bahrain race to take place as scheduled - Apr 13, 2012
- Reinstating Bahrain Grand Prix will cost F1: Mosley - Jun 05, 2011
- Indian Grand Prix could be pushed to December - May 21, 2011
- Indian GP confirmed for Oct 2012, US round also included - Dec 08, 2011
- India to make Formula One debut next year - Sep 08, 2010
- F1 supremo Ecclestone hasn't given up hope of staging Bahrain Grand Prix in 2011 - Mar 04, 2011
Tags: bahrain gp, bahrain grand prix, bbc report, bernie ecclestone, canadian grand prix, f1 teams, fia, formula one teams, fota, hispania, jaypee, last friday, New Delhi, objections, organisers, reinstatement, sports international, wmsc, world motor sport, world motor sport council