Turkey on standby for 2012 Bahrain axe
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| Massa exiting Turkey pits |
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has not ruled out reinstating the Turkish grand prix on future formula one calendars, a local newspaper reports this week.
We reported this week that the Istanbul circuit, the scene of seven grands prix since 2005 but not on next year's schedule, is on standby in the event Bahrain needs to be cancelled again.
And the Turkish Hurriyet daily reports that F1 chief executive Ecclestone "has expressed hope that F1 management will agree with Turkish authorities to hold the races in the country again".
Turkey, a popular layout whose races were poorly attended, was dropped from the calendar apparently because organizers refused to pay a higher race sanctioning fee.
"It is very sad but we have to deal with some changes in formula one sometimes," said Renault team boss Eric Boullier, "and we can just hope that we will be back there."
It was rumored in Singapore last weekend that team bosses are concerned about the ever-expanding and more arduous F1 calendars.
"The calendar has 20 races next year," said Virgin president Graeme Lowdon, "and 21 would have been too many and so the reality is that there had to be some give somewhere."
09/26/11 (GMM) Turkey is on standby should Bahrain not return to the formula one calendar next season.
Last year's race in the island Kingdom was called off due to the civil unrest.
But Bahrain's troubles seem to be persisting still, with violence near the now-famous Pearl Square marking the parliamentary elections at the weekend.
According to veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit, writing in the Blick newspaper, Turkey has been put on standby should Bahrain's late April event be called off in 2012.
Turkey's Istanbul Park was dropped from the 2012 schedule but F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone remains involved in the management of the venue.
Ecclestone is however sure that F1 will be back in Bahrain.
"They have assured me that the situation will be resolved and then we will go back there next year," he told Italian newspaper La Stampa in Singapore.