Bahrain welcomes FIA decision to keep grand prix

Amid growing speculation about whether the race would be called off after news reports of further protests against the race in Bahrain, the BIC's statement is insistent that the situation in Bahrain is adequate to stage the race.

The statement reads: "The Bahrain International Circuit ('BIC') welcomes the statement which the FIA has issued regarding next week's Bahrain Grand Prix, together with the clarification provided by the commercial rights holder, following recent media speculation."

"The BIC has been clear throughout recent weeks and months that the security situation in Bahrain is suitable for the staging of a major sporting event. This assessment has been provided by experienced figures, from both inside and outside the Bahraini government, to motor racing entities which have travelled to Bahrain to do their own research."

The statement claimed that it was business as usual in terms of preparing for the event and that the BIC has total confidence that it will run run properly.

"The certainty of those assessments have meant that the BIC has been able to prepare as usual for the staging of the F1 Grand Prix and is therefore wholly confident that the event will be organised with the efficiency that has been the hallmark of the BIC in the past.

"We hugely look forward both to an exciting sporting occasion and to extending the traditional warm Bahraini welcome to Formula 1 teams, administrators and fans visiting our country next week."