18/05/2011
NEWS STORY
A group of motorsport fans in Bahrain have collected "over 2000" signatures in support of putting Bahrain back on the 2011 F1 calendar.
With the FIA having extended the deadline, by which a decision was to be made, from May 1 to June 3, following consultation with the relevant Bahraini authorities and Formula One Management, it remains to be seen whether the powers that be can be convinced that all is well and the sport can reschedule the race this year.
In Britain, the Foreign Office continues to warn against "all but essential travel until further notice", while on the very day that (FIA president) Jean Todt claimed things had improved our source in Bahrain informed us that he had a "Saudi tank" parked in his driveway.
Nonetheless, a group of Bahraini motorsport fans is collecting signatures in the hope of saving this year's event, using last weekend's National Racing Finals at the Bahrain International Circuit to drum up further support.
"We want to show Formula One organisers that many people around Bahrain want the Grand Prix this year, and that we as Bahrainis are proud to be its hosts," a spokesman for the group told the Gulf Daily News. "Having more than 2,000 people sign the book in just one day is very encouraging. Both locals and expatriates have signed, which shows the kind of support F1 has from all areas of our society.
"We are planning to bring our book around to specific locations around the country and getting even more people to sign," he added. "The Bahrain Grand Prix means a lot to us and to our entire country, and we want to do our small part in making it happen this year."
While stories do appear in the mainstream media from time to time, most recent articles have more to do with the ethics of taking to F1 this year, most journalists clearly uneasy about having to make such a choice.