2011 Formula One season to kick off at Bahrain GP
The Bahrain race organisers are determined not to let go the season opening slot in the Formula One calendar. The country has hosted the first race of the 2010 Formula One season and is scheduled to follow the trend this year too.
In 2007, Bahrain was seen embracing the first race of the season and after a gap of three years in 2010, the country inaugurated the season once again. Prior to this, Melbourne had a long history of hosting the season opener, wanting to get the role back
once again. From 1996 up till 2006, it reserved the status of the traditional season opener and became the obvious choice of the race fans. However, the opening of the Sakhir venue in Bahrain five years back added new taste to the sport.
Although, last year’s Middle Eastern race was considered too dull for a season opener by the fans, teams and drivers alike, no changes in the format have been made by FIA for this year’s calendar. The 2011 Formula One championship is to kick off this March
from Bahrain while Australia will hold the second race of the season with Malaysia hosting the third one, the sequence followed in last season as well.
The chief executive of the Bahrain Circuit, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, talked to the media saying, "We have had fantastic races with great touches. We're very proud that we have the opening round. We worked very hard to secure the first race with
Formula One Management. It is a challenge and I'd like to thank the support of the F1 management and Bernie Ecclestone.”
He further insisted, "It's very important to us and our sponsors to be the first race and it means people are talking about the race for three months instead of two weeks, which is what happens if we are the third."
This year is going to be a very special one for the Formula One calendar with maximum number of races in the history of the sport. With the addition of the Indian Grand Prix that is scheduled to take place this October, the calendar now has a total of 20
races. Last year saw 19 races as the Korean Grand Prix was introduced in schedule while in 2009 there were 18 races only.
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