Bahrain Grand Prix set to become a night race for 2014 (Update)
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| Bahrain to be night race in 2014 |
(GMM) Bahrain will celebrate its tenth anniversary as a formula one host by staging next year's race under lights.
Although 2014 will not be the tenth Bahrain grand prix, because the race was removed from the calendar in 2011 due to the island Kingdom's civil unrest outbreak, it will be the tenth anniversary of the first race in 2004.
To mark the occasion, circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani revealed earlier this year: "We are looking at many options.
"A night race could be one of them, but it is not the only one. There are pros and cons to doing it."
It appears the 'pros' have won the day, with European publications Speed Week (Germany) and Italiaracing (Italy) reporting that the deal was agreed between Alzayani and Bernie Ecclestone at Monza at the weekend.
Speed Week said the news will be confirmed 'in the coming days', while Italiaracing said the work to install the lighting systems should be complete by February.
According to the draft calendar that did the rounds at Monza, Bahrain will host the fifth round of the 2014 championship, in late April.
Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner said: "It is still unclear whether Bahrain will be a twilight race, like Abu Dhabi, or a pure night race, like Singapore."
09/08/13 The Bahrain Grand Prix is set to switch to a night race from 2014, with confirmation expected to come from the circuit in the next week.
Early in the season, rumors were sparked that circuit officials were considering the possibility of hosting a night race, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Zayed Al Zayani, the Chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit, revealed this weekend at Monza that an official announcement for 2014 will come in the next few days.
Bahrain had been suggested as the opening round of the 2014 season, to be held in March, as it was in 2006 and 2010, but circuit officials have requested the race be pushed back on the calendar, so that essential upgrades can be made to the venues lighting system to accommodate a night race.
Speaking to AUTOSPORT, Al Zayani said: “We requested from Bernie not to be the first grand prix of the year because we are undergoing a major refurbishment of our track to commemorate the 10th anniversary.
“We didn’t want to be squeezed for time."
As of yet it is unclear if the race will be a true night race, as Singapore is, or if it will be run in similar conditions to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place at twilight as the sun goes down in the desert.