Feature: Bahrain Hoping for an Early Start

The Middle East could have its first Formula One Grand Prix sooner rather than later.

Bahrain officials met commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona last weekend to discuss dates for the ground-breaking race scheduled for the island kingdom next season.

The state-of-the-art circuit is under construction, with the track blasted through the desert rock south of the capital Manama and due for completion by March 7th 2004.

Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, president of Bahrain's general organisation for youth and sports, said the timing of the race was crucial.

"Initially we just want to make the event a success for the fans but fixing a date is important for us and for the continuation of that date," he said. "Ideally it will be at the beginning or the end of the season because we can't have a date in the middle of the season as it's too hot."

With the championship starting in Australia and then progressing to Malaysia before heading back west, Bahrain could slot in ahead of Brazil. Britain's Autosport magazine this week quoted sources as saying that Ecclestone had agreed and provisionally moved China, another newcomer, towards the end of the calendar.

Low Humidity

"I've been to the Malaysian Grand Prix where the humidity is around 90 percent and I've seen the drivers after the race," said al-Khalifa. "It's not really a pleasant feeling, not for the spectators or the drivers. We don't want that.

"We have almost zero humidity during the beginning of the season so we'd prefer the climate to be acceptable for everyone."

China and Bahrain are scheduled to replace two European races on what is expected to be a 17-round calendar. Austria may be one of those dropped, along with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps if there is no change in the local law banning tobacco advertising. Imola's San Marino Grand Prix may also be at risk as Formula One moves into new areas of key importance to the major manufacturers.

Bahrain, with a team of administrators and operations staff studying the organisation of the race at the Circuit de Catalunya, aims to set a new standard. Malaysia is the current benchmark, with the Sepang circuit designed by German track architect Hermann Tilke considered the most modern in the world.

Desert Oasis

Bahrain expects its 5.475-km, $150-million track, also by Tilke, to be the best yet with the main grandstand area landscaped like a desert oasis.

"I visited the KL (Kuala Lumpur) circuit last year with a team of around 15 engineers and the circuit is good, fantastic," said Minister of Public Works Fahmi al-Jowder. "But we think it was also done in a quick way because they wanted to catch up with the event. The quality was jeopardised a little bit. I have instructed my people that...quality must not be affected."

Al-Jowder said the war in Iraq had not had any impact on the circuit despite fears that shipments and supplies might be delayed.

Malaysia also provides a cultural point of reference as the only Islamic country to host a round of the championship, until Bahrain arrives on the scene.

Bahrain's Gulf Daily News reported in February that some local deputies had rejected funding proposals for the circuit and resort complex because it was "flying in the face of Islamic values."

The funding was later approved and Al-Khalifa said the Grand Prix did not necessarily have to follow European customs with scantily-clad models and champagne spraying.

"In Malaysia, you've still got the pit girls. Instead of wearing bikini tops they are wearing the Malaysian traditional clothes. And you can have a non-alcoholic champagne," he said.

"There are ways around it to be honest. But drinks are allowed in Bahrain and so are nightclubs so we don't see difficulties in that area."