Formula 1 News - February, 2008
Bahrain backs away from night race reports

Jan.12 (GMM) Organisers of the Bahrain grand prix have backed away from reports that they are considering staging a formula one night race.

The Sakhir circuit's chief operating officer Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa told the local Gulf Daily News this week that, unlike race chiefs in Melbourne, Bahrain is "not opposed" to the concept of lighting up the track.

"It is only natural that we have been gathering information about it, trying to determine its advantages and disadvantages," he said.

But in the same newspaper on Tuesday, Shaikh Salman made it clear that the night race concept "is not on the agenda of the circuit".

The Bahrain International Circuit also issued a statement explaining that Salman's comments were "unfortunately ... taken out of context".

"While the concept of night racing is extremely interesting it is not on the agenda of the (circuit)," the statement added.

Unlike some of F1's fixtures located further east, Bahrain enjoys a favourable time difference to the key European broadcasters, and usually good television viewing figures.

"As a result we have had no discussions with either the FIA or Formula One Management towards staging our race at night," the Bahrain GP organisers insisted.

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