Todt Claims Bahrain GP Reinstated as it has ‘Stabilised’

June 7, 2011

In an interview with the BBC, the president of motorsport’s world governing body (FIA), Jean Todt claimed the decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix to the F1 calendar was made after a report revealed the country’s situation has “stabilised”.

Todt added that the FIA voted unanimously after advice from vice-president Carlos Gracia, saying: “Our special envoy had many meetings in Bahrain, even with the human rights people responsible.

“He found a stable situation, a quiet one, and we unanimously agreed.”

The race was postponed from its initial March 13 date because of pro-democracy protests in which more than 20 people died and will now be held on 30 October.

Todt added: “Carlos’s report was discussed by the World Council and the decision was taken to accept to re-programme the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2011.

“We got a request from the opposition to the government to run the event and Carlos met with many people, including those working on the circuit, those in all the suburbs of the capital, and the report came back after that.

“The messages coming out are about peace, about restoring a good situation in this part of the world. Lots of other authorities have been encouraging [things] to go back to normal. My thinking is that, as a sporting body, we must support that.”