MARCH 18, 2004

Bahrain is ready to go

King Hamad of Bahrain yesterday opened the new Formula 1 racing circuit in Bahrain after 18 months of frantic building work to get the circuit ready for a Grand Prix in April. The track has already been given FIA approval for an F1 race and the locals hope that there will be a crowd of 70,000 people present for the first World Chmpionship Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Former F1 star Jean Alesi turned up for the launch and gave his seal of approval for the track, saying that the circuit would provide plenty of opportunity for overtaking.

Formula 1 arrives in Bahrain in two weeks time and there is much excitement in the F1 community as the new track will probaably offer a more exciting race than normal because the sand in the region will make tyres a much more complicated businss han before.