Bahrain race is unifying force: circuit boss

Reuters/Manama

Speaking in his office at the Sakhir desert circuit, Alzayani told reporters security arrangements for Sunday’s race were the same as last year and suggested that any protesters who resorted to violence would be guilty of ‘terrorism’.

“We don’t feel there is a direct threat to the track and nor have we received any threats,” he added as teams and drivers arrived to work on cars and carry out media duties. “We don’t feel any extra threat is upon us this year.”

The race was cancelled in 2011, due to an uprising and subsequent bloody crackdown that left at least 35 dead, and last year’s event went ahead after nightly skirmishes between police firing teargas and protesters throwing petrol bombs.

“I am totally against violence. No matter what cause you have, you have no right to disrupt the normal cause of life for others in the country,” said Alzayani. “That’s not democracy, that’s terrorism. there’s no two ways about it. Whether you do that hiding behind human rights, or political, or religious motivation, it’s wrong.”

Alzayani said a 25,000-strong crowd was expected on Sunday, which would be a bigger turnout than 2010 and 2012.

Watched by millions around the world, the Grand Prix is Bahrain’s biggest annual sporting event but also the most controversial on the Formula One calendar. Bahrain’s main opposition bloc has called for peaceful demonstrations leading up to the race, but there have been frequent clashes in mainly Shi’ite villages.

Alzayani defended the controversial slogan of “UniF1ed” used last year to promote the race. Alzayani said 156 Bahraini marshals - “Men, women, Muslim, Christian and atheist” - had officiated at the 2011 Indian Grand Prix after Bahrain was cancelled and their show of unity had inspired the slogan that critics said had politicised the race.

“After the race, all of them got in four big trucks and drove laps with Bahraini flags on the Indian track. That showed to me the unification...that’s why we came up with ‘UniF1ed’,” said Alzayani.

This year’s slogan is ‘Imagine Your Moment’.

“I don’t think Formula One splits the nation,” said Alzayani, who said only a ‘tiny percentage’ were opposed to the race.

Critics have accused the government of using the race as a vanity project, incurring hefty losses on hosting fees estimated at around $40 million a year, but Alzayani said it had never been intended to make money. “The intention is mainly to promote Bahrain internationally which I think we have been very successful in doing,” he said. Alzayani declined to provide any financial figures.