Bahrain Confident Work Will be Completed in Time

Bahrain Grand Prix officials are confident that the new circuit will be completed in time for the Gulf desert kingdom to host its first ever Formula One race in April next year.

Bahrain will become the first Middle East nation to stage a Formula One Grand Prix on April 4 next year and circuit president Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa has promised the $150 million (USD) track will be completed in time.

"The work will be finished on time, there is no reason to be worried," he said. "Almost all of the high-value work of the project has been completed, and what remains now is the mechanical work.

"The progress of construction work is being closely followed by holding weekly meetings with officials from the Ministry of Works and the project's designers and consultants, Tilke and Partners, to ensure that quality.

Organisers said that 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the race and Sheikh Fawaz is hoping to attract a crowd of 70,000 with the promise that the tickets are the cheapest in the championship.

"We expect the event to be a full house," he added.