APRIL 20, 2004

Gurdjian goes home

Having successfully cobbled together the Bahrain Grand Prix, having been called in to help out in the last months before the event took place, Frenchman Philippe Gurdjian is going home.

"When I was appointed, I faced a tight deadline of only 10 weeks to complete preparations for the event: finalising the completion of the track and supervising the set-up of the paddock area for the F1 teams, as well as building grandstands to accommodate the public. The 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix was the 20th Grand Prix that I have worked on since 1985 and working day and night we achieved all our objectives."

Gurdjian is also involved in the organisation of the Spanish Grand Prix and in running the Paul Ricard testing facility in the south of France.

It remains to be seen whether Gurdjian will be back in Bahrain next year, or whether the locals will be able to handle it all themselves.