By IRNA,
London: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone remains hopeful the season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain next month will go ahead despite unrest in the country.
‘Our people there say ‘it’s quiet, no problems’,” said Ecclestone despite reports in the British press suggesting the race was on the brink of being scrapped from the 2011 calendar.
‘I’m more hopeful today. I hope we don’t have to do anything. Let’s hope this all blows away,’ the British sports entrepreneur told the BBC on Friday.
At least four people have been killed and 231 injured during anti-government protests that follow uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and other Arab states.
Bahrain, which hosted the first Formula One Grand Prix in the Middle East in 2004, opened the season last year, when the traditional opener in Australia was pushed back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games.