Bahrain Project on the Right Track

Organisers of next year's Bahrain Grand Prix took preparations a step further today when they set up a new organisational company to oversee the promotion of the event.

The race, scheduled to take place late in next season, is set become the first Middle East Grand Prix in the history of the Championship and work is already well underway on the new circuit.

The new Bahrain Racing Circuit Company will be chaired by HE Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and he said: "We look forward to welcoming international race fans to the Bahrain Grand Prix next year.

"We are very encouraged by the support and enthusiasm both the circuit project and the Bahrain Grand Prix have received from the motor racing community, including the FIA, the teams and other host circuits."

The board will oversee all aspects of the Bahrain circuit operation, including strategy, management team appointments, events, commercial activities and promotion of the facility.

The track, designed by German Hermann Tilke and built on a 170-hectare site in the desert, is due for completion on March 7, 2004, having taken just 485 days to construct.