“Following the current events in Bahrain, at the request of the Bahrain Motorsport Federation, it has been decided that the remainder of the meeting which was supposed to take place this week at Bahrain International Circuit is cancelled due to force majeure,” stated a press release on the GP2 website.
Earlier today, the website reported that the GP2 practice and qualifying sessions that were supposed to take place on Thursday had been moved to Friday. The reason was that the medical personnel at the circuit were requested in the nearby Manama city after violent clashes between protesters and the police left behind at least 3 dead and tens injured.
Apparently, the Bahrain Motorsport Federation wants to take no chances and advised the FIA officials to cancel the race altogether.
The news comes as a blow to both the GP2 and Formula 1 community, as the season opening round of the 2011 F1 championship is scheduled to take place at the Sakhir circuit in mid March. According to the international media, cited by the GMM news agency, “journalists are being stopped from entering the Kingdom on Thursday whilst internet access is limited, but eyewitnesses report worrying accounts of widespread violence, injuries and deaths.”
Under the circumstances, the last F1 group test of the winter, scheduled in the first week of March at the Bahrain International Circuit, is also now in doubt. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is yet to comment on the situation (as it has developed so far), after recently expressing concern about the prospect of having to call off the Bahrain GP.
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